Understanding the Needs of Young People at Risk for Harmful Sexual Behavior
Official title: Understanding the Needs of Young People Who Have Caused or May Cause Sexual Harm Toward Children
Funded at Center for Violence Prevention Research, INC. · NIH-11288003 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant supports analyzing how young people age 14–21 who worry about or may engage in inappropriate sexual thoughts or acts get help, with the aim of informing prevention and support.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Center for Violence Prevention Research, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Melrose, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $115,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R03HD121019-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11288003 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Young people aged 14–21 who voluntarily seek help for sexual thoughts or behaviors through confidential helplines or similar outreach.
✕Less likely to help
The results may have limited direct impact on youth who do not seek help or whose concerns fall outside sexual-behavior issues.
What this research studies
The project will reanalyze transcripts from WhatsOK, a confidential helpline for youths with sexual-behavior concerns, to understand patterns and triggers. It uses two qualitative approaches—codebook thematic analysis on at least 500 transcripts and reflexive thematic analysis on up to 50 transcripts—to map concerns, pathways to help, and how prevention programs can be improved. Led by Dr. Maggie Ingram at the Center for Violence Prevention Research, the work seeks to inform counselor training and prevention programming before harm occurs. The study is conducted within a real-world setting, leveraging existing helpline data to illuminate youths’ experiences and needs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could lead to better prevention programs and training that support at-risk youth before harmful behavior escalates.
How similar studies have gone: Previous analyses of helpline transcripts have provided insights into youth concerns, but this project deepens understanding with two distinct qualitative methods.
Where this research is happening
-
Center for Violence Prevention Research, INC.
Melrose, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ingram, Maegan Metisa — Center for Violence Prevention Research, INC.
- Study coordinator: Ingram, Maegan Metisa
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.