Helping parents and teens talk about sexual health
Official title: Improving parent-adolescent communication about sexual and reproductive health
Funded at Teen Health Research, INC. · NIH-10819669 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about helping parents and teens talk more easily about sexual and reproductive health by creating a friendly online platform called TheTalk, which aims to make these important conversations less stressful and more comfortable for everyone involved.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Teen Health Research, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Raleigh, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $340,143 |
| NIH project number | 1R41HD112212-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10819669 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 10-13 and their parents who are seeking to improve their discussions about sexual health.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who may not benefit from this research include those outside the age range of 10-13 or families who are already comfortable discussing sexual health topics.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving communication between parents and adolescents regarding sexual and reproductive health. It aims to create a personalized, culturally-sensitive platform called TheTalk, which will help facilitate these important conversations. By addressing the anxiety and barriers that often prevent meaningful discussions, the project seeks to empower both parents and teens with the skills and confidence needed to engage in open dialogue about sexual health. The approach includes utilizing digital tools to make these conversations more accessible and effective.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance the quality of parent-adolescent communication, leading to better sexual health outcomes for young people.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that improving parent-adolescent communication can lead to better sexual health outcomes, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Teen Health Research, INC.
Raleigh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Widman, Laura M. — Teen Health Research, INC.
- Study coordinator: Widman, Laura M.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.