@article{mccrimmon_widman_brasileiro_2024, title={Adolescent Barriers to Sexual Communication with Their Parents: Differences by Sexual and Gender Identity}, volume={6}, ISSN={["1559-8519"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2024.2362899}, DOI={10.1080/00224499.2024.2362899}, abstractNote={Parent-adolescent sexual communication has important health benefits for adolescents, yet not all families openly communicate about sex. In particular, adolescents often report various barriers to engaging in sexual communication with their parents. The purpose of this study was to address gaps in past research by examining barriers to communication with both mothers and fathers, separately, as well as to explore the unique barriers to communication among queer and trans adolescents. Participants were recruited via Instagram (}, journal={JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH}, author={Mccrimmon, Jordyn and Widman, Laura and Brasileiro, Julia}, year={2024}, month={Jun} }
 @article{lipsey_burnette_becker_baker_mccrimmon_billingsley_2023, title={A growth mindset intervention to improve mental health in adolescents during COVID-19}, volume={10}, ISSN={["1751-9004"]}, DOI={10.1111/spc3.12894}, abstractNote={AbstractCOVID‐19 poses a considerable threat to adolescent mental health. We investigated depression rates in teens from pre to post‐COVID. We also explored if leveraging a growth mindset intervention (“Healthy Minds”) could improve adolescent mental health outcomes during the pandemic, especially for adolescents experiencing the most distress. In Study 1, we recruited youth from schools in a rural southern community (N = 239) and used a pre‐post design. In Study 2, we recruited an online sample (N = 833) and used a longitudinal randomized control trial design to test the effectiveness of Healthy Minds. Across both studies, there is evidence of higher rates of depression in youth during COVID‐19, relative to pre‐pandemic numbers. In Study 1, the intervention effectively changed psychological and behavioral processes related to mental health, especially for adolescents experiencing greater COVID‐19 stress. However, in Study 2, the intervention failed to impact depression rates or symptoms at follow‐up.}, journal={SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY COMPASS}, author={Lipsey, Nikolette P. and Burnette, Jeni L. and Becker, Whitney and Baker, Levi R. and Mccrimmon, Jordyn and Billingsley, Joseph}, year={2023}, month={Oct} }
 @article{robinson_menezes_zinck_mccrimmon_okumu_ford_esposito_sivaraman_chi_2023, title={An Internship Approach to Strengthen the Pathway for Historically Underrepresented Groups in Health Sciences Research: The North Carolina Diversity and Inclusion Pathway Program}, volume={94}, ISSN={["1077-9450"]}, DOI={10.1097/QAI.0000000000003271}, abstractNote={
            Background:
            To increase engagement of historically underrepresented groups in health sciences research, we created the North Carolina Diversity and Inclusion Pathway Program (NC-DIPP). This year-long, paid internship provides undergraduate and graduate students from 2 historically Black colleges and universities an opportunity to gain real-world experience under the mentorship of expert faculty.
          
          
            Methods:
            To evaluate the early experiences with the NC-DIPP program, we conducted semi-structured interviews with interns and program leaders. Faculty mentors completed an online questionnaire to describe their experiences to date. A thematic approach was used to analyze the findings.
          
          
            Results:
            In March–April 2023, 7 of 8 interns (88%), 6 of 11 mentors (54%), and 4 of 4 program leaders (100%) participated in various evaluation components. Overall, respondents agreed about the importance of programs like NC-DIPP, which further engage historically underrepresented groups in the health sciences. Interns had positive feedback about the internship, including real-world work experience, connections to experienced mentors, and early career planning. On a scale of 1 (poor) to 10 (excellent), interns rated their experience as a median of 8.3 (range: 4.5–10.0). Mentors had favorable but slightly lower scores (median: 7.0, range: 5.0–8.0). Areas for improvement were noted, including clearer expectations, improved logistical support, and central engagement of interns across projects.
          
          
            Conclusions:
            This early evaluation of NC-DIPP was generally favorable across all stakeholder groups. By providing a long-term experience in health science research, such programs can contribute to work experience, career planning, and professional networking.
          }, number={2S}, journal={JAIDS-JOURNAL OF ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROMES}, author={Robinson, Seronda A. and Menezes, Prema and Zinck, Matthew and Mccrimmon, Jordyn and Okumu, Eunice and Ford, R. Uriah and Esposito, Maria and Sivaraman, Vijay and Chi, Benjamin H.}, year={2023}, month={Oct}, pages={S86–S92} }
 @article{mccrimmon_widman_javidi_brasileiro_hurst_2023, title={Evaluation of a Brief Online Sexual Health Program for Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial}, volume={4}, ISSN={["1552-6372"]}, DOI={10.1177/15248399231162379}, abstractNote={ Adolescents are at increased risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and experiencing unintended pregnancy. In particular, adolescents from marginalized communities experience significant sexual health disparities compared to their more advantaged peers. Digital sexual health programs, such as HEART ( Health Education and Relationship Training), may be effective in reducing these risks and addressing these disparities. HEART is a web-based intervention focused on the promotion of positive sexual health outcomes, such as sexual decision-making skills, sexual communication skills, sexual health knowledge, and sexual norms and attitudes. The current study evaluates the efficacy of HEART, and examines whether effects were moderated by gender, socioeconomic status (SES), race, English as a second language, and sexual orientation to ensure the program is effective for diverse groups of adolescents. Participants were 457 high school students (Meanage=15.06, 59% girls, 35% White, 78% heterosexual, 54% receive free or reduced-price lunch). Students were randomized to HEART or an attention matched control and assessed at pretest and immediate posttest. HEART was effective in increasing sexual assertiveness, sexual communication intentions, HIV/STI knowledge, condom attitudes, and safer sex self-efficacy compared to the control condition. There were no significant interactions by gender, SES, race, English as a second language, or sexual orientation, suggesting the program worked equally well for all groups of youth. The findings of this study suggest that HEART may be a promising avenue for the promotion of positive sexual health outcomes for diverse groups of youth. }, journal={HEALTH PROMOTION PRACTICE}, author={McCrimmon, Jordyn and Widman, Laura and Javidi, Hannah and Brasileiro, Julia and Hurst, Jeffrey}, year={2023}, month={Apr} }
 @article{javidi_widman_maheux_mccrimmon_evans-paulson_becker_2023, title={PACT: Developing and Evaluating a Digital Sexual Consent Program for Youth}, volume={5}, ISSN={["1559-8519"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2023.2208560}, DOI={10.1080/00224499.2023.2208560}, abstractNote={Understanding affirmative sexual consent is crucial for violence prevention and health promotion, yet few adolescents receive adequate consent education. The current study aimed to evaluate the acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a brief online program designed to teach adolescents information and skills about communicating and interpreting affirmative sexual consent (PACT: Promoting Affirmative Consent among Teens) in a randomized controlled trial with a national sample of 833 U.S. adolescents (ages 14-16; 42% White, 17% Asian, 17% Black, 13% Latinx; 53% girls, 31% boys, 12% non-binary; 45% heterosexual; 29% sexually active). PACT, grounded in health behavior change and persuasion theories, was developed using feedback from youth advisors and usability testers. Participants considered the program generally acceptable. Compared to youth who completed a control program, PACT was efficacious at shifting three measures of affirmative consent cognitions (i.e., knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy) from baseline to immediate posttest. Youth who completed PACT also demonstrated more accurate affirmative consent knowledge at 3 months post-baseline. PACT's effects on consent cognitions were generally similar among youth with various gender, racial/ethnic, and sexual identities. We discuss next steps for this program, including the possibilities of expanding to include additional concepts and tailoring to address the unique needs of specific youth.}, journal={JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH}, author={Javidi, Hannah and Widman, Laura and Maheux, Anne J. J. and McCrimmon, Jordyn and Evans-Paulson, Reina and Becker, Whitney}, year={2023}, month={May} }
 @article{espinosa-hernandez_noel_vasilenko_mccrimmon_moran_2022, title={Associations between parental and adolescent alcohol use: The role of gender and familism support}, ISSN={["1095-9254"]}, DOI={10.1002/jad.12077}, abstractNote={AbstractIntroductionThis study examined the role of gender and familism support in the associations between parental and adolescent drinking behaviors in a sample of Mexican adolescents.MethodMexican adolescents (49% girls; N = 724) aged 12–19 completed measures assessing familism support, self‐reported drinking behaviors, and perceptions of parental drinking behaviors.Results and ConclusionFindings suggest that both gender and familism support moderate the relationship between parental drinking behaviors and adolescent drinking behaviors. For instance, the association between mothers' alcohol use frequency and adolescent binge drinking was stronger for girls. In contrast, the association between fathers' amount per drinking day and adolescent binge drinking was stronger for boys. Mother's amount per drinking day was associated with less alcohol use per drinking day among adolescents reporting high familism support. The current study expands our understanding of parental modeling on Mexican adolescent drinking behavior.}, journal={JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENCE}, author={Espinosa-Hernandez, Graciela and Noel, Nora E. and Vasilenko, Sara A. and McCrimmon, Jordyn and Moran, Angel Hernandez}, year={2022}, month={Jul} }
 @article{brasileiro_widman_norwalk_mccrimmon_mullins_2022, title={National trends and disparate access to formal and informal sex education among youth involved with the child welfare system in the USA}, volume={10}, ISSN={1468-1811 1472-0825}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14681811.2022.2134102}, DOI={10.1080/14681811.2022.2134102}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT This study investigated whether youth involved with the child welfare system in the USA are receiving formal and informal sex education. Data come from the Second National Survey of Child and Adolescent Wellbeing, a nationally representative sample of children and adolescents in contact with child protective services. Participants included young people (n = 1093, aged 11–21) involved with the child welfare system. Participants reported whether they had received formal sex education about a) abstinence only; b) contraceptives/condoms only; c) abstinence and contraceptives/condoms; or d) none. They also reported whether they knew where to access family planning services. We examined the prevalence of sex education experiences and differences in sex education access and knowledge based on participants’ pregnancy history and sociodemographic characteristics. Only half (49%) of participants had received any form of formal sex education. Pregnant youth were less likely to have received any sex education compared to non-pregnant youth . 72% of adolescents who had received sex education about contraceptives/condoms reported knowing where to access family planning services compared to only 46% of adolescents who had not received this sex education . There is a pressing need for comprehensive sex education among youth involved with the child welfare system.}, journal={Sex Education}, publisher={Informa UK Limited}, author={Brasileiro, Julia and Widman, Laura and Norwalk, Kate and Mccrimmon, Jordyn and Mullins, Lily}, year={2022}, month={Oct}, pages={1–17} }