@article{kamke_stewart_widman_2022, title={Multilevel Barriers to Sexual Health Behavior Among Vulnerable Adolescent Girls in the USA}, volume={19}, ISSN={1868-9884 1553-6610}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13178-021-00594-7}, DOI={10.1007/s13178-021-00594-7}, abstractNote={Most sexual health interventions focus on individual-level predictors of sexual behavior. Given the considerable influence of environmental factors on adolescent girls' sexual health, current interventions may be insufficient to promote safer sex. In this study, we aimed to understand adolescent girls' anticipated barriers to engaging in safer sex behavior after completing a brief, web-based sexual health intervention called HEART.This study used qualitative interviews with 50 adolescent girls who were recruited from community-based organizations that serve vulnerable youth. All participants were 12 to 19 years old (mean age=15.62, SD=1.83), and identified with a marginalized racial/ethnic group (58% Black; 18% Latinx; 24% Asian, biracial, or multiracial). Further, 24% identified as LGBTQ+, and 58% were sexually active.Guided by the social ecological model, we delineate six unique barriers to safer sex discussed by adolescents: partner manipulation, slut shaming, unclear sexual values, present time orientation, embarrassment, and access to sexual and reproductive health services.We conclude with recommendations for addressing these barriers to optimize adolescent girls' sexual health.}, number={2}, journal={Sexuality Research and Social Policy}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={Kamke, Kristyn and Stewart, J. L. and Widman, Laura}, year={2022}, pages={822–833} }
 @article{kamke_widman_javidi_2021, title={The Multidimensionality of Adolescent Girls' Gender Attitudes}, volume={39}, ISSN={["1936-4717"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1007/s12147-021-09288-1}, DOI={10.1007/s12147-021-09288-1}, number={2}, journal={GENDER ISSUES}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={Kamke, Kristyn and Widman, Laura and Javidi, Hannah}, year={2021}, month={Aug} }
 @article{stewart_kamke_widman_hope_2021, title={“They See Sex as Something That’s Reproductive and Not as Something People Do for Fun”: Shortcomings in Adolescent Girls’ Sexual Socialization from Adults}, volume={37}, ISSN={0743-5584 1552-6895}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/07435584211020299}, DOI={10.1177/07435584211020299}, abstractNote={Theorists suggest that adolescent girls’ sexual socialization can influence sexual risk reduction and positive sexuality development, although adolescent girls’ positive sexuality development is understudied. In this study, we applied a sex-positive framework to explore sexual socialization experiences among a sample of adolescent girls of color recruited from community-based organizations that serve youth with heightened needs (n = 50; Mage = 15.62, range = 12–19; 58% Black/African American; 76% heterosexual; 58% sexually active). Specifically, we examined girls’ reports of messages about sexuality they have received from their teachers, parents, health care providers, and society at large. Participants completed brief, semi-structured qualitative interviews. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Overall, the adolescent girls described how they navigate primarily sex-negative sexual socialization messages from adults to develop positive sexual selves. Within this narrative, we found five themes: (a) Adults deliver one-sided communication that adolescent sex is inappropriate and risky; (b) Gendered messages restrict adolescent girls’ sexuality; (c) Naive adults can’t be trusted; (d) Exclusion of same-gender sexual experiences endangers adolescents who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and with other nonheterosexual orientations (LGBQ+); and (e) Messages about sexual protection can help but may still restrict adolescent girls’ sexual choices. Implications for adolescent girls’ positive sexuality development are discussed.}, number={2}, journal={Journal of Adolescent Research}, publisher={SAGE Publications}, author={Stewart, J. L. and Kamke, Kristyn and Widman, Laura and Hope, Elan C.}, year={2021}, month={Jun}, pages={250–279} }
 @article{widman_kamke_evans_stewart_choukas-bradley_golin_2020, title={Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy of a Brief Online Sexual Health Program for Adolescents}, volume={57}, ISSN={["1559-8519"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2019.1630800}, DOI={10.1080/00224499.2019.1630800}, abstractNote={This study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a 45-minute interactive, online sexual health program for adolescents, called Health Education and Relationship Training (HEART). The program was originally developed and evaluated among adolescent girls (HEART for Girls); the current project describes and evaluates a new version of the program that was adapted for boys and girls. Participants were 226 high school students (mean age = 16.3; 58% girls; 46% White; 79% heterosexual). Students were randomized to HEART or an attention-matched control and assessed at pre-test and immediate post-test. Overall, the program was feasible to administer in a school setting and youth found the program highly acceptable (83% liked the program, 87% learned new things, and 93% would use program content in the future). At post-test, students who completed HEART demonstrated improvements on every outcome we examined: sexual communication intentions, condom use intentions, HIV/STD knowledge, condom attitudes, condom norms, self-efficacy to practice safer sex, and sexual assertiveness compared to control participants (effect size ds = .23 to 1.27). Interactions by gender and sexual orientation revealed the program was equally acceptable and worked equally well for boys and girls and for heterosexual and sexual minority youth. We propose several avenues to further adapt and tailor HEART given its promise in promoting adolescent sexual health.}, number={2}, journal={JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH}, publisher={Informa UK Limited}, author={Widman, Laura and Kamke, Kristyn and Evans, Reina and Stewart, J. L. and Choukas-Bradley, Sophia and Golin, Carol E.}, year={2020}, month={Feb}, pages={145–154} }
 @article{evans_widman_kamke_stewart_2020, title={Gender Differences in Parents' Communication With Their Adolescent Children about Sexual Risk and Sex-Positive Topics}, volume={57}, ISSN={["1559-8519"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2019.1661345}, DOI={10.1080/00224499.2019.1661345}, abstractNote={A healthy sexual self-concept that captures an understanding of the risky and the positive aspects of sexuality is imperative to life-long well-being. Parents have a unique opportunity to instill knowledge of sexual risk as well as confidence and comfort around sexuality in their adolescents. Although parent–child communication about sexual risk is fairly common, less is known regarding the frequency of parent–child communication about sex-positive topics, such as sexual desire and satisfaction. This study examined the frequency of parents’ communication with their children about sexual risk and sex-positive topics among a sample of 901 parents of 13–17-year-old adolescents (parent Mage= 40.61; 71% mothers) from across the U.S. Parents reported on sexual communication with their adolescent children (child Mage = 14.68; 50% daughters). We examined gender differences in communication patterns. Few parents communicated with their adolescents about sex-positive topics. Only 38% discussed sexual satisfaction, 38% discussed different types of sexual practices (e.g., oral sex), and 55% discussed sexual desire. Parents communicate more about sexual risk than sex-positive topics with their adolescents and this discrepancy was largest for mothers of daughters. Fathers of daughters communicate the least about sex-positive topics. Implications for intervention development and future research on sexual communication are discussed.}, number={2}, journal={JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH}, author={Evans, Reina and Widman, Laura and Kamke, Kristyn and Stewart, J. L.}, year={2020}, month={Feb}, pages={177–188} }
 @article{javidi_maheux_widman_kamke_choukas-bradley_peterson_2020, title={Understanding Adolescents' Attitudes Toward Affirmative Consent}, volume={57}, ISSN={["1559-8519"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2019.1711009}, DOI={10.1080/00224499.2019.1711009}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT A clear understanding of sexual consent is important for sexual violence prevention. To date, most research has focused on how college students understand and negotiate consent. Although adolescence is a critical period for the development of sexual attitudes, identity, and intimate relationships, the perspectives of high school-aged youth have been largely absent from the consent literature. The current study investigated adolescents’ attitudes toward affirmative consent in a sample of 226 high school students (58% female; 46% White, 24% Black, 25% Hispanic) from the southeastern U.S., as well as associations between affirmative consent attitudes and gender, gender role beliefs, and sexual activity status. Additionally, we tested whether gender role beliefs were a mediator between gender and affirmative consent attitudes. Overall, adolescents reported supportive attitudes toward affirmative consent. On average, girls and adolescents with more egalitarian gender role beliefs had more positive attitudes toward affirmative consent than boys and those with less egalitarian gender role beliefs, though no differences by sexual activity status were found. Gender role beliefs mediated the relationship between gender and attitudes toward affirmative consent. The results suggest that adolescents are generally supportive of affirmative consent practices, although some important group differences emerged.}, number={9}, journal={JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH}, publisher={Informa UK Limited}, author={Javidi, Hannah and Maheux, Anne J. and Widman, Laura and Kamke, Kristyn and Choukas-Bradley, Sophia and Peterson, Zoe D.}, year={2020}, month={Nov}, pages={1100–1107} }
 @article{stewart_widman_kamke_2019, title={Applying a Multifactorial Communication Framework to Better Understand Differences between Father-daughter and Mother-daughter Sexual Health Discussions}, volume={24}, ISSN={["1087-0415"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2019.1651428}, DOI={10.1080/10810730.2019.1651428}, abstractNote={While the literature on parent-child sexual communication among adolescent girls is robust overall, research that is specifically focused on communication between fathers and daughters is more limited. Further, there have been calls for work on parent-child sexual communication to be situated within a multi-factorial conceptual framework that distinguishes between different communication components, such as the communication source, content, frequency, quality, and timing. Using such a framework, this study examined aspects of father-daughter sexual communication as they compare to mother-daughter communication in a diverse sample of 193 girls (Mage = 15.62). Results highlighted several gaps between father-daughter and mother-daughter communication. Girls reported covering less content and communicating less frequently about sexual topics with their fathers compared to their mothers. Girls also reported being less comfortable communicating and found their discussions to be less helpful with fathers than mothers. Girls were also less likely to report communicating with fathers about sexual topics before their sexual debut than with mothers. No significant differences were found in communication style (i.e., conversational or like a lecture) between fathers or mothers. Results highlight the importance of understanding the multifaceted process of parent-child communication and signal the need for targeted intervention efforts to improve upon father-daughter communication.}, number={7-8}, journal={JOURNAL OF HEALTH COMMUNICATION}, publisher={Informa UK Limited}, author={Stewart, J. L. and Widman, Laura and Kamke, Kristyn}, year={2019}, pages={633–642} }
 @article{kamke_widman_desmarais_2019, title={Evaluation of an Online Sexual Health Program among Adolescent Girls with Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties}, volume={29}, ISSN={1062-1024 1573-2843}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01685-1}, DOI={10.1007/s10826-019-01685-1}, abstractNote={Adolescent girls with emotional and behavioral difficulties (EBDs) have a heightened risk of negative sexual health, including HIV, other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and unplanned pregnancy. Few evidence-based sexual health interventions are available for adolescent girls with EBDs. This study tested the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a brief, online sexual health program called HEART (Health Education and Relationship Training).Forty-seven participants (M-age = 15.79; SD = 1.71; 62% Black, 23% Hispanic) recruited from community-based organizations in the southeastern U.S. were compared to a non-equivalent comparison group who received an attention-matched intervention.Findings support the feasibility of participant recruitment and program administration in community-based settings. Participants completed HEART in 44 minutes and experienced few technological difficulties. HEART was highly acceptable: most participants liked, learned from, and were engaged with the program. Further, 92% would recommend HEART to a friend and 98% would use what they learned in the future. At posttest, intervention participants had significantly higher communication intentions, communication skills, STI/HIV knowledge, sexual self-efficacy, condom attitudes, and condom norms than the comparison group (ps < .003; effect size ds = .38-1.65). Significant improvement in condom intentions was observed when comparing pretest to posttest scores among intervention participants only, t(46) = -3.21, d = 0.47.Findings support the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of HEART among adolescent girls with EBDs in community-based settings. This study also addresses the growing need for research into the transferability of sexual health interventions to facilitate evidence-based decision-making about program dissemination and implementation.}, number={4}, journal={Journal of Child and Family Studies}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={Kamke, Kristyn and Widman, Laura and Desmarais, Sarah L.}, year={2019}, month={Dec}, pages={1044–1054} }
 @article{widman_golin_kamke_massey_prinstein_2017, title={Feasibility and acceptability of a web-based HIV/STD prevention program for adolescent girls targeting sexual communication skills}, volume={32}, ISSN={["1465-3648"]}, DOI={10.1093/her/cyx048}, abstractNote={Adolescent girls are at substantial risk of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV. To reduce these risks, we developed Health Education And Relationship Training (HEART), a web-based intervention focused on developing sexual assertiveness skills and enhancing sexual decision-making. This study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of this new program and examined if perceived acceptability varied according to participant ethnicity, sexual orientation or sexual activity status. Participants were part of a randomized controlled trial of 222 10th-grade girls (Mage = 15.26). The current analyses included those in the intervention condition (n = 107; 36% white, 27% black and 29% Hispanic). HEART took approximately 45 min to complete and was feasible to administer in a school-based setting. Participants found the program highly acceptable: 95% liked the program and learned from the program, 88% would recommend the program to a friend and 94% plan to use what they learned in the future. The primary acceptability results did not vary by the ethnicity, sexual orientation or sexual activity status of participants, suggesting broad appeal. Results indicate that this new online program is a promising method to reach and engage adolescents in sexual health education.}, number={4}, journal={HEALTH EDUCATION RESEARCH}, publisher={Oxford University Press (OUP)}, author={Widman, L. and Golin, C. E. and Kamke, K. and Massey, J. and Prinstein, M. J.}, year={2017}, month={Aug}, pages={343–352} }