The goal of this randomized trial is to learn if the Peer Group Connection - Middle School (PGC-MS) intervention delays initiation of sexual intercourse in middle school-aged youth. The primary research question it aims to answer is: Sixteen months after being offered the intervention, does PGC-MS impact youth's initiation of sexual intercourse? Researchers will compare participants randomized to receive PGC-MS (treatment group) to participants randomized to class-as-usual (which contains no sexual or reproductive health information (control group)). Participants randomized to the treatment group will be offered PGC-MS over the course of their transition year into middle school (either 6th or 7th grade). Participants randomized to the control group will be offered class-as-usual.
This is an individual-level, randomized control trial to rigorously evaluate the impact of the Peer Group Connection - Middle School (PGC-MS) intervention. Participant outcomes will be assessed using self-reported, individual-level data gathered using a structured questionnaire administered at four time points: baseline (fall semester of 6th or 7th grade); post-intervention (spring semester of 6th or 7th grade); four months post-intervention (fall semester of 7th or 8th grade); and sixteen months post-intervention (fall semester of 8th or 9th grade).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
1,400
Peer Group Connection - Middle School (PGC-MS) is the treatment condition. PGC-MS is a school-based positive youth development program for students entering the transition year into middle school (6th or 7th grade). PGC-MS aims to improve school engagement and social-emotional learning skills that support adolescent health and educational outcomes for program participants. Participants receive 45-minute outreach sessions held 3 to 4 times per month for the full school year. Schools are expected to implement a minimum of 18 outreach sessions over the school year. PGC-MS outreach sessions are delivered by older peer leaders (8th, 9th, or 10th graders) who are carefully selected by faculty advisors and trained on how to deliver program content.
The Policy & Research Group
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
RECRUITINGInitiation of sexual intercourse
Participants are asked the following item: 1) Have you ever had sexual intercourse? The resulting variable is dichotomous with values 0 or 1, where 0 indicates a person who has never sexual intercourse and 1 indicates a person who has had sexual intercourse.
Time frame: Assessed 16 months after the intervention period has ended (beginning of the second fall semester following the end of the program)
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