A program to help parents communicate with their preadolescent children about media and health.

Online Parent Media Literacy Program to Promote Preadolescent Health

NIH-funded research Innovation Research and Training, INC. · NIH-10667471

This study is testing an online program called MAP-Tween that helps parents learn how to talk to their preteen kids about important topics like puberty and relationships, while also teaching them how to understand the media's influence on their children's lives.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionInnovation Research and Training, INC. NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Durham, United States)
Project IDNIH-10667471 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research develops an online program called MAP-Tween aimed at equipping parents with the skills to effectively communicate with their preadolescent children about important topics such as puberty, gender roles, and relationships. The program focuses on enhancing media literacy, helping parents understand the impact of media on their children's beliefs and behaviors. By providing resources and practice in high-quality communication, the program seeks to empower parents to mitigate the negative influences of media on their children's health outcomes. The initiative is informed by input from a diverse advisory panel, ensuring it meets the needs of families.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this program are parents of children aged 0-11 years who are seeking to improve their communication skills regarding media and health topics.

Not a fit: Parents of children outside the preadolescent age range or those not interested in media literacy may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the health outcomes of preadolescents by fostering better parent-child communication.

How similar studies have performed: Previous programs focusing on media literacy education have shown positive impacts on youth health outcomes, indicating a promising approach.

Where this research is happening

Durham, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.