CE25-026 - A Randomized Control Trial Evaluation of WhatsOK for the Primary Prevention of Problematic Sexual Behaviors Among Youth

About This Grant

PI: BRIGHT Project Abstract Page 1 of 1 PROJECT ABSTRACT Up to 77% of cases of self-reported sexual harm against youth are committed by other young people, including those ages 14-17. Problematic sexual behavior (PSB), sexual behaviors among youth that are not developmentally appropriate and have the potential to cause harm to children. In the proposed study, we conduct a mixed-methods randomized trial of the first helpline in the world for youth who might engage in PSB in digital or ‘real-world’ settings. We will partner with Stop it Now!, the creator of primary prevention program WhatsOK, and learn continuously from an advisory group of youth with PSB. WhatsOK.org is a microsite developed specifically for young people and includes age- appropriate guidance for visitors and Stop It Now!’s signature tone of hopefulness, accountability, and support. Youth can access the confidential WhatsOK helpline through a phone call or text, email, or an online chat service; confidential services begin with youth talking to a trained professional. The online help center offers specialized information related to each situation (e.g., Is this normal sexual behavior? What do I do if my sexual behaviors have harmed someone?), customized guidance on how to talk with others about concerns, and lists of organizations that offer services to assist with coping. Despite having reached over 8M youth through their social media advertisements, having served nearly 2000 youth through the helpline, and serving as the standard of practice for emerging youth helplines around the world, WhatsOK has not yet been rigorously evaluated for its efficacy in primary prevention of PSB. Our proposed evaluation of WhatsOK will provide this critically needed evidence. Given the extensive pilot work already completed, data collection can begin within the first three months of the study period. We will conduct a randomized control trial to evaluate WhatsOK for preventing problematic sexual behavior. At least 1348 youth aged 14-17 years, who are at-risk for engaging in PSB and have a desire for help, will be randomly assigned to one of two groups (WhatsOK helpline services or director of therapists who treat youth with pedophilia). Primary outcomes will be PSB in digital spaces (e.g., downloading or possession of illegal images of children, nonconsensual image sharing, use of digital spaces for commercial sexual exploitation or trafficking of children) and PSB in ‘real world’ settings; secondary outcomes include formal help seeking, safety plan creation, and risk and protective factors to prevent PSB. The study team is uniquely designed to ensure the success of this project, under the leadership of Dr. Melissa Bright in collaboration with Dr. Sabrina Boyce with mentorship from Drs. Jay Silverman, Michael Seto, and Elizabeth Letourneau. We bring together experts in violence prevention, prevention of sexual harm against children, sexual and gender-based violence, problematic sexual behavior, community-based participatory research, and implementation science.