Prevention Science[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Gun-Related Beliefs as Predictors of Gun Policy Support: Findings from the Nationally Representative GRIP Survey.
Ward JA, Baxter-King R, Smith PN … +1 more , Mehari KR
Prev Sci · 2026 Feb · PMID 41739285 · Full text
Partisan affiliations and other demographic characteristics inadequately explain support for gun policy and provide vague public health messaging guidance. Gun-related beliefs may be more malleable and meaningful determi...
Partisan affiliations and other demographic characteristics inadequately explain support for gun policy and provide vague public health messaging guidance. Gun-related beliefs may be more malleable and meaningful determinants of policy support for gun violence prevention. Using a nationally representative, community-engaged, mixed methods design, we examined predictive associations between gun-related beliefs and public support for six gun policies (i.e., universal background checks, waiting periods, minimum purchasing age, violent offender prohibitions, concealed carry permits, and extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs)). Gun-related beliefs were more strongly associated with policy support than political affiliation. Strength of agreement with "no one should own AR-15 style semiautomatic rifles" was positively associated with support for all six policies. Beliefs about gun policies as violence prevention were also highly salient, predicting support for five policies, with disagreement or agreement both predicting higher probability of support for universal background checks, violent offender prohibitions, and ERPOs than neutral beliefs. Beliefs that "guns are tools" were generally unassociated with policy views. Findings suggest potential for gun violence prevention messages that combine values-based language with salient themes to build support for preventive policies across political and demographic lines.
Identifying and Prioritizing Core Components of Relationship Education Programs: a Case Study of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Assisted Systematic Review.
Kelley C, Kelley S, Rivas-Koehl M … +4 more , Wilson A, Rosinsky K, Briggs S, Scott ME
Prev Sci · 2026 Feb · PMID 41701459 · Publisher ↗
The field of prevention science seeks to identify and implement effective strategies to address social, emotional, and health challenges. A critical aspect of this endeavor is determining the core components of preventio...
The field of prevention science seeks to identify and implement effective strategies to address social, emotional, and health challenges. A critical aspect of this endeavor is determining the core components of prevention programs that drive positive outcomes. This article presents a case study utilizing artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted systematic review methods to identify key components of healthy marriage and relationship education programs. Given the growing body of research in this domain, AI tools offer a promising means to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of literature reviews. This study employed AI to screen, code, and validate research articles, demonstrating its effectiveness in expediting systematic reviews while maintaining high accuracy in inclusion screening. This case study involved a systematic review of 22,028 resources (identified from PsycINFO, Academic Search Ultimate, and Google) and a final data set of 268 relevant studies. AI screening was integral in effectively conducting multiple rounds of screening. However, findings also highlight challenges in AI-assisted qualitative data abstraction, underscoring the continued need for human expertise in complex coding tasks. The study contributes to the ongoing discourse on integrating AI into prevention science methodologies and offers insights for optimizing AI applications in systematic reviews.
Leveraging Machine Learning to Uncover Ethnic-Specific Predictors of Maternal Postpartum Depression.
Zhang Y, Fang J, Liu A
Prev Sci · 2026 Feb · PMID 41692884 · Publisher ↗
Maternal postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant mental health issue that affects over 15% of mothers, with adverse effects on their children. Ethnic disparities in PPD represent a pressing public health concern, an...
Maternal postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant mental health issue that affects over 15% of mothers, with adverse effects on their children. Ethnic disparities in PPD represent a pressing public health concern, and minority mothers are found to have a higher likelihood of being affected by PPD. Identifying specific risk factors for these mothers is crucial for developing targeted preventive strategies that can help mitigate the disparities in PPD. This study used CDC data (N = 39,637) from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System to examine how risk factors for PPD vary among mothers from different ethnic groups. We applied Random Forest machine learning (ML) algorithms, and the final model achieved a mean ROC AUC of 0.65 and PR AUC of 0.66 during cross-validation on balanced samples, though performance declined on the held-out test set (PR AUC = 0.28; two times higher than the baseline of 0.11). The top predictors include prepregnancy and prenatal depression, family income, prior PPD-related visits, WIC participation, employment-based insurance, breastfeeding, pregnancy intention, and parental education. Subgroup analyses revealed both shared and unique predictors across racial and ethnic groups. While the results for White mothers closely aligned with overall trends, smoking and pregnancy termination ranked high among Black mothers. For Hispanic/Latina mothers, unintended pregnancy and smoking were more prominent, whereas, for Asian mothers, infant sleep arrangements, prepregnancy health behaviors, and infant sex emerged as key predictors. This study demonstrates the value of using ML to identify data-driven, population-specific predictors of PPD and highlights the need for culturally sensitive, early preventative approaches in perinatal mental health care.
A Scoping Review of Strategies to Increase Newcomer Family Access to Early Childhood Services.
Miles E, Doyle E, Bose S … +1 more , Bernstein H
Prev Sci · 2026 Feb · PMID 41670908 · Full text
Early childhood services can lay a critical foundation for refugee and immigrant children as they develop in new cultural contexts; however, these populations are underrepresented in a variety of early childhood programs...
Early childhood services can lay a critical foundation for refugee and immigrant children as they develop in new cultural contexts; however, these populations are underrepresented in a variety of early childhood programs such as early care and education, home visiting, and early intervention. This scoping review examines the strategies being implemented to increase newcomer families' participation in services and parent preferences for early childhood services. A systematic search yielded 38 studies, 22 of which included strategies to increase access for newcomer families and 20 of which explored parent preferences around early childhood education. Identified strategies to promote access were categorized as program responsiveness (67%), outreach (57%), workforce responsiveness (57%), service delivery (52%), added supports (52%), social networks (43%), partnerships (43%), program policies (43%), or state and national policies (29%). Parents' preferences for care were related to child academic and social-emotional development (80%), perceived quality (65%), type of care (65%), cultural responsivity and match (60%), and language (50%). Most studies focused on access or preferences related to early childhood programs or child care and early education broadly (89%), while fewer focused on strategies to increase access to home visiting or early intervention (11%). Additional research is needed to identify the strategies being utilized to promote access to home visiting and early intervention and to empirically test the relationship between identified strategies and improved access to these services.
Introduction to the Special Issue: Innovations and Strategies for Addressing COVID-19 Pandemic Related Challenges in Prevention Science Research in Applied Settings.
Bradshaw CP, Morgan-López AA, Musci RJ
Prev Sci · 2026 Jan · PMID 41670907 · Full text
This paper serves as an introduction for a special issue of Prevention Science: "Innovations and Strategies for Addressing COVID-19 Pandemic Related Challenges in Prevention Science Research in Applied Settings." This co...
This paper serves as an introduction for a special issue of Prevention Science: "Innovations and Strategies for Addressing COVID-19 Pandemic Related Challenges in Prevention Science Research in Applied Settings." This collection of original papers came together through an open call for original submissions to address emerging issues following the COVID-19 pandemic and related impacts on prevention science research. These papers are organized into four broad themes related to COVID-related impacts on (a) data collection, (b) measurement and missingness, (c) implementation supports and delivery considerations, and (d) broader pandemic impacts. The special issue concludes with a commentary focused on measurement and methodological considerations in analyzing data impacted by COVID-related disruptions. This set of papers provides insights for prevention science scholars and practitioners, illustrates lessons learned for managing pandemic-related data collection and design challenges, and highlights innovations in online data collection.
Strategies for Identifying Core Components of Programs: an Exploratory Descriptive Component Case Study of a Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program.
Cole R, Knab J, Forrester E
Prev Sci · 2026 Feb · PMID 41665797 · Full text
Studies of program components (i.e., the ingredients that make up programs) have risen from obscurity to join mainstream program evaluation approaches over the last two decades. Researchers and policymakers are intereste...
Studies of program components (i.e., the ingredients that make up programs) have risen from obscurity to join mainstream program evaluation approaches over the last two decades. Researchers and policymakers are interested in leveraging information about the effectiveness of program components to better address the needs of programs' intended populations and reduce disparities in outcomes. Identifying which components are responsible for improving outcomes can inform evaluation design, measurement, and the state of the evidence as well as program development, adaptation, fidelity, and scale-up. This paper summarizes strategies for conducting components research, and anchors those emerging best practices in a components case study of a teen pregnancy prevention program. It offers applied guidance on ways to define and operationalize components, and best practices in measurement and analysis that have emerged from this work. This paper will help guide the prevention field toward conducting more and better research that yields consensus about which components are most important for program effectiveness.
eMoms and Teens for Safe Dates: a Single Arm Pre-post Study of Preliminary Efficacy.
Reyes HLM, Langoni EGA, Macy RJ … +2 more , Moracco KE, Foshee VA
Prev Sci · 2026 Feb · PMID 41661418 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Adolescents exposed to intimate partner violence between caregivers face heightened risk of adolescent dating violence (ADV), yet few family-based prevention programs have been tailored to this group or evalu...
BACKGROUND: Adolescents exposed to intimate partner violence between caregivers face heightened risk of adolescent dating violence (ADV), yet few family-based prevention programs have been tailored to this group or evaluated for their impact on theorized mechanisms of change. METHODS: This single-arm pilot study examined the preliminary efficacy of eMoms and Teens for Safe Dates (eMTSD), a brief, web-based program for IPV-exposed adolescents and their mothers. Participants were 101 mother-adolescent dyads recruited via community agencies and social media. All dyads completed a baseline survey and were asked to complete six modules together over 6 weeks. Follow-up data were collected from 85 mothers and 80 adolescents. Analyses assessed pre-post changes in factors targeted by the intervention and examined cross-sectional associations between these factors and baseline ADV victimization and perpetration. RESULTS: Significant changes in the expected direction were found for targeted adolescent (knowledge, perceived severity, and normative beliefs) and mother (knowledge, protection motivation beliefs) cognitions. Mothers and adolescents also showed gains in conflict-resolution skills and declines in adolescent emotion dysregulation approached significance. At the family level, frequency of communication and adolescent disclosure of dating behaviors/concerns improved significantly, with trends towards improvements in cohesion and communication quality. Many of the factors that changed were also associated with baseline ADV victimization or perpetration, supporting the relevance of program targets. CONCLUSIONS: eMTSD shows promise for improving modifiable ADV-related risk and protective factors among IPV-exposed families. A randomized trial is needed to assess impacts on ADV outcomes and inform future scale-up.
Using a Multicomponent Implementation Strategy to Increase Adoption and Effectiveness of a Universal Mental Health Prevention Program in Australian Primary Schools: a Cluster Randomized Trial Using a Type-3 Hybrid Design.
Baffsky R, Wong QJJ, Cullen P … +8 more , Werner-Seidler A, Calear AL, Batterham PJ, Toumbourou JW, McGillivray L, O'Dea B, Ivers R, Torok M
Prev Sci · 2026 Feb · PMID 41644926 · Full text
It has been demonstrated in multiple randomized trials that the PAX Good Behavior Game is an effective school-based program for reducing the severity and progression of childhood emotional and behavioral problems that ar...
It has been demonstrated in multiple randomized trials that the PAX Good Behavior Game is an effective school-based program for reducing the severity and progression of childhood emotional and behavioral problems that are prognostic of mental disorders, personality disorders, and self-harm behavior in adolescence and early adulthood. Embedding effective programs into routine practices of frontline settings is a global priority for mental health prevention, however, little is known about what strategies effectively support program implementation in schools. The purpose of this study was to test the effect of a multicomponent implementation strategy on the adoption and efficacy of the PAX Good Behavior Game, using a cluster randomized controlled trial with a type-3 implementation-effectiveness design. The trial was conducted in 25 primary schools across New South Wales, Australia. Schools were randomly assigned to receive the PAX Good Behavior Game plus an implementation toolkit to support adoption (intervention group) or the PAX Good Behavior Game only (control group). The primary outcome was change in rate of program adoption, measured as current use or support of the PAX Good Behavior Game, first measured at 6 weeks post-registration (T0). The secondary effectiveness measure was change in students' emotional and behavioral problems, using the teacher-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The first measure of the SDQ occurred at trial registration, prior to program implementation (T0). Both adoption and effectiveness were re-measured at 6 months post-registration (T1). All data were analyzed using intention-to-treat methods. Early program adoption was higher in the intervention group compared to control group (93.6% vs 45.2%: OR = 21.20, 95% CI [3.50, 128.45], z = 3.32, p < 0.001), with no differential effects at 6 months (96.8% vs 95.7%: OR = 1.21, 95% CI [0.16, 9.04], z = 0.18, p = 0.855). Emotional and behavioral problems reduced in both groups from baseline to 6 months (p < 0.001, d = - 0.25), with no differential effects observed at T1 (p = 0.474, d = - 0.08). There was a positive linear relationship between adoption and the perceived acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of the program for the pooled sample. It seems that providing implementation support early in the process of establishing new innovations in schools may help accelerate early adoption by increasing perceived appropriateness and acceptability, but uncertainty remains as to what support is needed to optimize implementation and effectiveness longer term. The protocol was retrospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12621001125819.
Validation of the Observational Assessment Tool for Tailoring (OATT).
Fu ES, Merle JL, Berkel C … +8 more , Brown CH, Philbin S, Fan Y, McGinnis JL, Demauro D, DiGregorio A, Litchey J, Smith JD
Prev Sci · 2026 Feb · PMID 41615545 · Full text
Individually tailored interventions can address the myriad multi-level determinants of chronic health conditions. Limited measurement modalities to quantify tailoring disallow examining "active ingredient" effects on out...
Individually tailored interventions can address the myriad multi-level determinants of chronic health conditions. Limited measurement modalities to quantify tailoring disallow examining "active ingredient" effects on outcomes and implementation fidelity. The objective of this study is to develop and validate the Observational Assessment Tool for Tailoring (OATT) for behavioral prevention interventions. We developed the OATT and coded n = 172 videorecorded sessions from two trials of the Family Check-Up® 4 Health (FCU4Health), an individually tailored prevention and management program for behavioral health and obesogenic behaviors with English and Spanish-speaking participants. The sample was culturally diverse (> 65% Hispanic/Latino). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) tested the two-factor model. McDonald's Omega estimated internal consistency. Discriminant and predictive validity tests were conducted with FCU4Health fidelity, engagement, and health behavior outcomes, informed by the Implementation Cascade Model. CFA confirmed a two-factor structure for both trials (i.e., RMSEA ≤ 0.06, CFI and TLI of ≥ 0.95, SRMR < 0.08 chi-square p ≥ 0.05). Reliability and inter-rater reliability were good (ICC > 0.77) for both trials and English and Spanish videos. The OATT was not correlated (p > 0.05) with discriminant validity variables. Path analysis for predictive validity indicated that fidelity to the Individualized Treatment Planning factor directly predicts improvements in participant engagement (B = 0.16, p = 0.01, 95% CI [0.03-0.29]), which directly predicts improvements in parent health behaviors 12 months post-baseline (B = 0.18, p = 0.01, 95% CI [0.02-0.34]). The development of the OATT is a critical step to measure and guide tailored intervention development, implementation, and evaluation. Future studies are needed to replicate predictive validity findings and test the OATT factor structure with larger samples and different prevention initiatives.
Effectiveness of an mHealth Intervention to Help Parents Prevent Early-Onset Alcohol Involvement: Findings from a Pilot of a Randomized Waitlist Control Trial.
Gottfredson O'Shea N, Pearsall MS, Gilkey MB … +2 more , Reyes HLM, Ennett ST
Prev Sci · 2026 Feb · PMID 41557132 · Full text
A quarter of 11-year-old children in the USA have tried alcohol, typically provided by parents. Parents are the primary source of alcohol socialization for preteens, yet many are unaware of their influence and lack tools...
A quarter of 11-year-old children in the USA have tried alcohol, typically provided by parents. Parents are the primary source of alcohol socialization for preteens, yet many are unaware of their influence and lack tools to discourage early-onset alcohol involvement (EOAI). We piloted BIPAS Alcohol, an mHealth intervention grounded in social cognitive theory, to prevent alcohol socialization. In this two-arm randomized waitlist control trial, 132 parents were randomized to receive BIPAS Alcohol immediately or after a 3-month delay. Self-reported outcomes were assessed at baseline and at 3 months. We analyzed intent-to-treat (ITT) effects using generalized linear models. We also tested moderation of intervention exposure by parental alcohol use frequency. BIPAS Alcohol improved parents' alcohol prevention beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors, including parenting self-efficacy, permissive beliefs, communication with other caregivers, alcohol socialization, and allowing sips. In moderation analyses, parent alcohol use frequency was associated with weaker effects on alcohol access and stronger effects on allowance of sipping. Moderation analyses suggested stronger effects on permissive beliefs and allowance of sips and weaker effects on alcohol access among parents who drank more frequently. BIPAS Alcohol is a promising preventive intervention for delaying EOAI. Its long-term effectiveness should be confirmed using a larger, more diverse sample.
Been There, Done That, and Now I'm Giving Back: Perspectives from Mentors and Administrators in Community Violence Intervention Programs.
Jones K, Duckworth J, Fetters C … +2 more , Galoro B, Rowhani-Rahbar A
Prev Sci · 2026 Jan · PMID 41543820 · Full text
Black young people are at high risk for firearm homicide in the USA. A promising intervention for mitigating firearm-related injuries and deaths is mentoring provided by individuals with specific lived experiences with f...
Black young people are at high risk for firearm homicide in the USA. A promising intervention for mitigating firearm-related injuries and deaths is mentoring provided by individuals with specific lived experiences with firearm violence and trauma (e.g., credible messengers, violence interrupters) in community violence intervention (CVI) programs. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors through which mentoring interventions in CVI programs could cultivate protective factors (e.g., social support) that prevent interpersonal firearm violence. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 mentors and program administrators in CVI programs in Washington State to examine their insights on the components of mentoring interventions that could work towards preventing firearm violence. A framework was developed through the use of a constructivist grounded theory methodology to capture the components within mentoring interventions in CVI programs aiming to prevent firearm violence among marginalized young people in communities disproportionately impacted by community firearm violence. Implications for both mentoring and CVI research are outlined in the manuscript.
Exploring Profiles of Risk and Protective Factors Among Youth Mentees: For Whom Does Mentoring Work?
Meldrum M, Lyons MD
Prev Sci · 2026 Feb · PMID 41540159 · Full text
Youth mentoring programs are an increasingly popular intervention and prevention strategy to promote positive youth development and to address a range of youth needs. Past research shows positive, albeit moderate, effect...
Youth mentoring programs are an increasingly popular intervention and prevention strategy to promote positive youth development and to address a range of youth needs. Past research shows positive, albeit moderate, effects of mentoring across multiple domains, but there is evidence that suggests heterogeneity in treatment outcomes. Several studies have examined the role of risk factors in mentoring outcomes, but less is known about the role of protective factors. This study examines the extent to which ecological factors outside of the mentoring relationship, specifically, youth risk factors and existing social support, play a role in the effectiveness of mentoring in promoting adaptive coping outcomes, as measured by academic achievement, self-efficacy, and expectations. Using a person-centered approach, we examined (1) whether there were distinct profiles of youth participating in mentoring using mentee risk factors and existing social support as indicators; (2) associations between profiles and youth race/ethnicity and gender; and (3) whether profiles differed in post-program adaptive coping outcomes. Two classes of youth were identified. One class reported higher risk factor presence and higher social support and was more likely to be youth of color. The second class reported lower risk factor presence and lower social support. Classes did not differ in their adaptive coping outcomes. The implications of these findings for mentoring programs and further research are discussed.
Impact VR: Building Socioemotional Resilience in Youth with Conduct Disorder.
Thomson ND, James JJ, Blondell V … +3 more , Perera R, Hazlett L, Vrana S
Prev Sci · 2026 Feb · PMID 41535527 · Full text
Adolescents with conduct disorder (CD) often exhibit deficits in emotion recognition, strained parent and peer relationships, and elevated social stress. This randomized controlled trial tested Impact VR, a brief, immers...
Adolescents with conduct disorder (CD) often exhibit deficits in emotion recognition, strained parent and peer relationships, and elevated social stress. This randomized controlled trial tested Impact VR, a brief, immersive socioemotional intervention, with the aim of building protective factors and improving socioemotional functioning among youth with CD. A total of 110 adolescents with CD (M = 13.79; 58% male) were randomized to either the Impact VR intervention or an active control. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up, including emotion recognition accuracy (ER40 total and subscales: fear, sadness, anger, happy, neutral), self-reported peer relationships, parent relationships, and social stress. Mixed-effects models controlled for baseline scores. Impact VR produced significant improvements in ER40 total accuracy (d = 0.74, p < .001), with specific gains for fear (d = 0.54, p < .001), sadness (d = 0.75, p < .001), and anger (d = 0.50, p = .014). No group differences emerged for happy (p = .126) or neutral (p = .050). Impact VR participants also reported stronger peer relationships (d = 0.58, p = .002) and parental relationships (d = 0.54, p < .001), and reductions in social stress at the 3-month follow-up (d = 0.53, p < .001). Findings demonstrate that even brief, scalable interventions delivered through immersive virtual experiences can yield meaningful improvements in socioemotional functioning for adolescents with CD. Impact VR represents a promising, engaging, and developmentally sensitive addition to the prevention science toolbox.
Addressing Health Disparities through Community Engagement in Artificial Intelligence-Driven Prevention Science.
Haroz EE, Goklish N, Dillard A … +6 more , Adams R, Bull SS, Gonzalez-Fisher RF, Valenza P, Manson SM, Thorpe RJ
Prev Sci · 2026 Jan · PMID 41533193 · Full text
Artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) in prevention science may improve or perpetuate health inequities. Community engagement is one proposed strategy thought to empirically mitigate bias in AI/ML tools. W...
Artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) in prevention science may improve or perpetuate health inequities. Community engagement is one proposed strategy thought to empirically mitigate bias in AI/ML tools. We outline how to incorporate community engagement at every stage of the model development and implementation. Borrowing from a framework for phases of prevention research, we describe the value and application of engaging communities to help shape more rigorous and relevant applications of AI/ML for prevention science. We provide concrete examples from real-world applications, including efforts in suicide prevention with Indigenous communities, on chronic disease prevention for Hispanic and Latino populations, and a community-driven effort to leverage AI/ML to improve allocation of resources focused on social determinants of health for Native Hawaiians. This work aims to provide applied examples of how community-engagement has been incorporated into AI/ML development and implementation, with the goal of encouraging those in the prevention science field to consider the voices of the community as the use of such tools grows. Engaging with the community around AI/ML is critical to ensure these tools reach populations in need and advance health equity for all.
Systematic Review of Organizational Strategies to Promote the Sustainability and Scale-Up of Mental Health Interventions to Advance Youth Psychological Wellbeing.
Tesfay N, Olsson TM, Jakobsson T … +2 more , Nilsson PV, Skoog T
Prev Sci · 2026 Feb · PMID 41519978 · Full text
This systematic review synthesizes empirical research on organizational strategies that support the sustainability and scale-up of community-based interventions designed to promote youth psychological well-being. While r...
This systematic review synthesizes empirical research on organizational strategies that support the sustainability and scale-up of community-based interventions designed to promote youth psychological well-being. While research has established the effectiveness of youth mental health interventions in community contexts, less is understood about the processes that ensure their long-term sustainability and scale-up. A search across seven databases yielded 27 eligible empirical studies (2003-2025) including peer-reviewed and grey literature. The Synthesis without Meta-analysis (SWiM) and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) standards provided a framework for conducting and documenting the review. Evaluations of methodological quality were carried out using Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE), Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT), and the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP). Two dominant strategies for intervention retention and effectiveness were identified: training and technical assistance (12 studies, 44%) and capacity building with implementation support (12 studies, 44%). The main barriers to sustainability and scale-up were reported as staffing as well as other resource limitations (financial, human, and technical), while facilitators included strong communication and leadership, sufficient funding and partnerships, and access to training and technology. Eleven studies (41%) sustained interventions beyond the initial funding period, with key factors including intervention fidelity, agency incentives, organizational support, therapist retention, and stakeholder engagement. The findings highlight the potential benefits of embedding sustainability and scale-up strategies in the pre-implementation phase, anticipating foreseeable barriers, and considering intervention fidelity, workforce stability, and organizational readiness as important precursors to sustainability and scale-up.
Utilizing Machine Learning for Predicting PrEP Use Status Among Sexual and Gender Minority Young Adults.
Boka C, Yonko EA, Beikzadeh M … +4 more , Kärkkäinen K, Hong C, Sarrafzadeh M, Holloway IW
Prev Sci · 2026 Jan · PMID 41519977 · Publisher ↗
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective biomedical prevention tool for HIV yet remains underutilized among key populations, particularly among young sexual and gender minorities (SGM). Recognizing the popul...
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective biomedical prevention tool for HIV yet remains underutilized among key populations, particularly among young sexual and gender minorities (SGM). Recognizing the popularity of specific dating and social media apps among SGM young adults, we leveraged user data from these platforms to build a machine learning (ML) model that could inform targeted, data-driven interventions aimed at improving PrEP uptake and adherence. We adapted eWellness, an Android mobile app, to passively collect data from research participants capturing mobile app usage, keystroke patterns and logs, and GPS location data between 2021 and 2024. These data were used to train a ML model to predict self-reported PrEP use. Model accuracy was evaluated through F1 scores across different data types and feature combinations. Study protocols were developed in collaboration with community partners and adhered to strict ethical and privacy standards. A total of 82 SGM young adults participated, with 46 (56%) reporting PrEP use at baseline. Our machine learning model demonstrated good predictive accuracy for predicting PrEP use and non-use, achieving an F1 score of 0.84 (PrEP use) and 0.82 (non-use) outcomes when incorporating data from all mobile apps, including messaging, dating, and social media mobile apps. By contrast, predictions based solely on social media mobile app usage, language associated with sexual behavior and substance use risk, or location monitoring demonstrated worse accuracy (F1 scores of 0.79/0.75, 0.70/0.57, and 0.70/0.52, respectively). Additional feature extraction methods, as well as various combinations of these features, were also tested. However, none achieved predictive accuracy as well as the model incorporating all mobile app usage data combined. This study demonstrates the potential of machine learning to accurately predict PrEP use status among SGM young adults. The findings offer a foundation for developing more personalized PrEP promotion strategies, particularly among SGM young adults who use social media and dating apps. Future research should assess the model's adaptability across diverse SGM subgroups to further inform intervention development. Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT04710901, November 9, 2020.
Educational Leader Reports of Statewide Change in Conditions for SEL Implementation over 1 Year of CalHOPE Student Support.
Metzger AN, Caouette JD, Robinson-Link PM … +3 more , Braun J, CalHOPE Research Committee, Shapiro VB
Prev Sci · 2025 Dec · PMID 41501401 · Full text
This study examines changes in the conditions for social and emotional learning (SEL) implementation in California over the 2023-2024 school year, following approximately 3.5 years of CalHOPE Student Support. Grounded in...
This study examines changes in the conditions for social and emotional learning (SEL) implementation in California over the 2023-2024 school year, following approximately 3.5 years of CalHOPE Student Support. Grounded in the SHIFT-SEL model, CalHOPE aims to build statewide SEL infrastructure through a nested implementation support system, with County Offices of Education (COEs) positioned as key intermediaries. Educational leaders (507 in Fall 2023 and 386 in Spring 2024) reported on their well-being, workplace climate, and SEL implementation conditions. This study builds on prior work by including county, district, and school site SEL leaders in the analysis, enabling a broader examination of change across multiple levels of the education system. Cross-sectional comparisons showed that COE leaders reported more favorable conditions than district and school leaders, particularly in the extent of the supports they provided. Longitudinal analyses revealed small but significant improvements among district/school leaders in well-being, implementation supports, leadership capacities, and SEL structures and routines, while conditions at the COE level remained favorable. These findings suggest progress in infrastructure for SEL implementation support statewide and illustrate the potential of regional intermediaries for scaling prevention practice.
Family Engagement in an Early Childhood Preventive Parenting Program: Innovative Methods for Examining Sociodemographic, Psychosocial, and Contextual Predictors.
Chen Y, Canfield CF, Finegood ED … +5 more , Gutierrez J, Milton A, Loney K, O'Connell LK, Mendelsohn A
Prev Sci · 2026 Feb · PMID 41499075 · Full text
Despite well-studied benefits of preventive parenting programs for early child development, various real-world barriers may impede families from engaging in those programs. The current study aims to provide new insights...
Despite well-studied benefits of preventive parenting programs for early child development, various real-world barriers may impede families from engaging in those programs. The current study aims to provide new insights into family engagement by examining enrollment, retention, and involvement and their predictors in an evidence-based universal pediatric primary care parenting program for families with young children. Data (n = 204) were from an ongoing longitudinal randomized controlled trial of PlayReadVIP in Flint, MI. Families (66% Black, 35% White, low socioeconomic status) had high enrollment and retention in the program. As exploratory analyses, random forest models, a machine learning method, identified a multitude of sociodemographic, psychosocial, and contextual predictors of retention and involvement in PlayReadVIP across the first 9 months. As confirmatory analyses, multiple regressions showed that COVID-19 significantly hindered retention (odds ratio = .04; b = - .30) and involvement (b = - .31) and that higher parenting self-efficacy was associated with lower retention (odds ratio = .76). Furthermore, the association between COVID-19 and family engagement was moderated by household income, suggesting that families with the highest economic risks were less likely to attend and be actively involved in sessions during the pandemic. This study addresses important research gaps by focusing on multiple aspects of family engagement in a pediatric program during infancy, assessing whether experiencing contextual adversity hinders or motivates engagement, and employing a machine learning method. These findings have crucial implications for designing and implementing early childhood prevention parenting programs to more effectively engage families with higher needs.
Stability Amidst Change in the Measurement of Implementation Fidelity Over Time.
Basha SAJ, Cai Q, Rodriguez MMD … +5 more , Gewirtz AH, Sigmarsdóttir M, DeGarmo DS, Uribe M, Forgatch MS
Prev Sci · 2025 Dec · PMID 41491758 · Full text
Children's mental health disorders are rising, underscoring the need to implement behavioral parent training (BPT) programs. However, wide variability in BPT effectiveness often reflects inconsistencies in implementation...
Children's mental health disorders are rising, underscoring the need to implement behavioral parent training (BPT) programs. However, wide variability in BPT effectiveness often reflects inconsistencies in implementation fidelity. This study examines test-retest reliability of the GenerationPMTO model's Fidelity of Implementation Rating System (FIMP) over a 17-year period. Seven coders provided ratings of 34 video segments from families participating in the Marriage and Parenting in Stepfamilies (MAPS) intervention, coded at two time points (2004, 2021) using first and third iterations of the FIMP manual. Variance decomposition analyses determined how much variability in scores was attributable to the interventionist, the observational coder, the session, and the year the data were coded. Test-retest intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) examined reliability across FIMP domains (knowledge, structure, teaching, process, and overall). Therapist differences accounted for the largest variance (38.1%), followed by coders (14.1%) and session (10.7%). Year did not significantly contribute, indicating that FIMP revisions have not undermined earlier fidelity metrics. Reliability analyses showed acceptable-to-excellent ICCs (range = 0.73-0.92), supporting the comparability of historical and current ratings. These findings indicate that GenerationPMTO's FIMP refinements maintain core fidelity metrics. By demonstrating stable fidelity data over time, the study bolsters confidence in both historical results and current coding practices. These outcomes reinforce the utility of long-standing training materials and support the use of stable fidelity tools in ongoing implementation and training contexts. Such synergy between fidelity measurement and adaptation fosters sustained program effectiveness across service contexts, allowing providers to align newer fidelity protocols with established best practices.
Mpox Vaccination and Willingness to Participate in Mpox Vaccine Research Among Sexual and Gender Minority Adults with and Without HIV in the United States.
Yellin H, Bornstein S, Siegel M … +1 more , Magnus M
Prev Sci · 2026 Feb · PMID 41484529 · Publisher ↗
Vaccination played a critical role in controlling the 2022 mpox outbreak in the United States, yet only a quarter of eligible individuals are estimated to be fully vaccinated. Using mixed methods, we analyzed cross-secti...
Vaccination played a critical role in controlling the 2022 mpox outbreak in the United States, yet only a quarter of eligible individuals are estimated to be fully vaccinated. Using mixed methods, we analyzed cross-sectional data collected from 60 sexual and gender minority people with and without HIV (PWH and PWOH) in August 2022. We investigated willingness to receive an mpox vaccine and to participate in mpox vaccine research, as well as actual vaccine uptake and experiences, and compared results by HIV status. Two-thirds of participants (66.7%) had received at least one dose of the mpox vaccine, including 61.5% of PWH and 70.6% of PWOH. PWH and PWOH had similarly high levels of willingness to receive an mpox vaccine. In open-ended responses, participants described personal and societal benefits of vaccination and had positive attitudes towards vaccines. Despite high vaccine acceptance and uptake, satisfaction with the vaccine rollout was low. A majority of unvaccinated participants who had tried to get the vaccine reported that they were unable to access it. Willingness to participate in mpox vaccine research was lower than willingness to receive a vaccine, though still moderately high. Some participants expressed uncertainty about research participation, concerns about safety, and negative attitudes toward research in general. PWH were more willing to participate in an mpox vaccine trial than were PWOH; however, this difference was not statistically significant. These results can inform future mpox research, vaccine rollout, and community engagement for vaccine trial recruitment.
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