Family Based Prevention of Alcohol and Risky Sex for Older Teens

This purpose of this study is to develop an interactive, web-based prevention program for parents and older teens that focuses on teen use of alcohol and teen relationships. The study is designed as a randomized controlled trial. Specific Aim 1: To adapt two parent-based prevention strategies (Family Matters and Parent Handbook) to provide a family-based approach for addressing older teen alcohol related risk behaviors and sexual risk behaviors and sex in combination with alcohol use (hereafter called alcohol and/or sexual risk behaviors) using the web as the program delivery mode. Specific Aim 2: To test whether exposure to the program leads to expected changes in targeted teen beliefs and behaviors, including reductions in alcohol and/or sexual risk behaviors. Specific Aim 3: To examine whether program effects on teen alcohol and/or sexual risk behaviors are mediated through changes in intermediate program targeted beliefs (parents and teen) and behaviors (e.g., parent-teen--communication). Program fidelity and process measures may also mediate these outcomes. Phase I integrates and adapts the two parent-based approaches and creates a web-based interactive delivery of materials. Expert panels, focus groups, and usability assessments will inform the process. Phase II is an RCT with 400 families with the web-based intervention. Surveys will be conducted at baseline, and for three follow-up periods (6, 12, \& 18 months). Analyses will examine teen outcomes related to alcohol and/or sexual risk behaviors. Changes in mediators directly impacted by the program for both teens and parents will be examined. Process and fidelity information will be collected and assessed. A web-based prevention strategy supporting parents and teens, is significant and timely. Parents and teens will use the internet to make health decisions. This program is uniquely different from other programs be-cause it addresses teens at high risk for alcohol and/or sexual risk behaviors. Further, the strategy involves both parents and teens through an interactive framework. The approach utilizes the strengths of Family Matters which promotes specific exercises and activities between parents and teens and the strengths of the Parent Handbook which addresses issues of importance to this age range.