A double-edged sword: Examining the role of technology inperpetuating and preventing teen dating violence among sexual and gender minorityyouth in the Deep South

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ABSTRACT Teen dating violence (TDV) is an urgent public health problem with many different typologies. Experiences of TDV have short- and long-term negative health outcomes, such as engagement in high-risk sexual behaviors, substance use, depression, suicidality, and subsequent relationships with IPV. Although a widespread problem among all adolescent groups, TDV disproportionately affects sexual and gender minorities (SGM), who are already at greater risk for these short- and long-term negative health outcomes and may additionally experience ongoing multi-level stigma and discrimination, especially in the South. In recent years, with the continued rise in digital communication tools, TDV has evolved to include both online and offline experiences of violence. Electronically facilitated TDV, or cyber dating abuse (CDA), involves the use of electronic communications for a number of violence-related behaviors ranging in severity. The scientific literature regarding CDA has only emerged in the last five years and gaps are evident in terms of estimated prevalence, sample diversity, and measurement. No studies to date are specific to SGM youth and none have examined strategies for preventing CDA, addressing e-safety, and promoting support seeking behaviors. The objective of this application is to provide essential training opportunities to the PI while advancing existing TDV research by (1) investigating experiences of CDA among SGM youth in the Deep South and (2) evaluating the acceptability of future innovative digital violence prevention messaging and strategies using a mixed methods design. SGM youth (N=400) between the ages of 13-17 years will be recruited online through targeted social media advertising across eight Deep South states. Interested youth will be screened online and, if eligible, redirected to complete an online survey assessment. Enrolled SGM youth with prior experiences of CDA (n=30) will be invited to participate in a subsequent semi-structured qualitative phone interview. Minority stress model and problem behavior theory informed the study's conceptual model. The long- term goal of this innovative research is to understand the frequency and context of CDA among SGM adolescents and to inform the development of digital messaging campaigns and interventions to decrease CDA and co-occurring violence typologies and to promote healthy adolescent relationships. Under the mentorship of an expert team, the training goals for this proposal are to: 1) acquire more in- depth understanding and knowledge regarding interpersonal violence among adolescents, as well as strategies for preventing and addressing victimization and perpetration; 2) develop and practice advanced quantitative data analysis skills; 3) enhance my training to integrate innovative digital technologies and health communication strategies into research design and the implementation of behavioral interventions; and 4) further my awareness of ethical issues involved in conducting interpersonal violence research with adolescents and in the use of digital technologies and communication channels for behavioral interventions.