NIH-funded research R21 grant

Creating a program to prevent relationship abuse among adolescents and their parents in pediatric care

Official title: Developing a parent-adolescent relationship abuse prevention intervention for pediatric primary care

Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11025904 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is working on a new program to help prevent relationship abuse among kids aged 11 to 15 by getting both them and their parents involved during doctor visits, so families can learn how to keep an eye on their kids' friendships and relationships.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Pittsburgh, United States)
Project startFebruary 3, 2024
Project endJanuary 31, 2026
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$250,350
NIH project number5R21HD109627-02
Project IDNIH-11025904 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research include adolescents aged 11 to 15 and their parents who are seeking preventive measures against relationship abuse.

Less likely to help

Patients who are not in the target age range or those who do not have parental involvement may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research aims to develop a brief intervention that addresses adolescent relationship abuse (ARA) by engaging both adolescents aged 11 to 15 and their parents during pediatric primary care visits. The project will involve creating a program that encourages parental monitoring of their children's relationships, which is a key protective factor against ARA. The researchers will first gather insights from parents, adolescents, and healthcare providers to tailor the intervention effectively, followed by a pilot trial to test its feasibility and acceptability in real-world settings.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the incidence of relationship abuse among adolescents by empowering parents to engage more actively in their children's lives.

How similar studies have gone: While there has been limited success with similar interventions in school-based settings, this approach in pediatric primary care is novel and untested.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
    Pittsburgh, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Ragavan, Maya — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
  • Study coordinator: Ragavan, Maya

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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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.