Ybarra ML, Straburger VC, Mitchell KJ. Sexual media exposure, sexual behavior, and sexual violence victimization in adolescence. Clin Pediatr. 2014;53(13):1239-1247. doi: 10.1177/0009922814538700 Abstract: BACKGROUND: Emerging research suggests sexual media affects sexual behavior, but most studies are based on regional samples and few include measures of newer mediums. Furthermore, little is known about how sexual media relates to sexual violence victimization. METHODS: Data are from 1058 youth 14 to 21 years of age in the national, online Growing up with Media study. RESULTS: Forty-seven percent reported that many or almost all/all of at least one type of media they consumed depicted sexual situations. Exposure to sexual media in television and movies, and music was greater … [Read more...]

Mustanski B, DuBois LZ, Prescott TL, Ybarra ML. A mixed-methods study of condom use and decision making among adolescent gay and bisexual males. AIDS Behav. 2014;18(10):1955-1969. doi: 10.1007/s10461-014-0810-3 Abstract: Young men who have sex with men have the highest rates of new HIV infections in the U.S., but they have been understudied relative to other populations. As a formative step for the development of a text messaging HIV prevention intervention, this mixed methods study aimed to understand how adolescent gay and bisexual males (AGBM) make decisions about condom use and factors that may differ based on age, sexual experience, and rural versus urban residency. Four online, asynchronous focus groups were conducted with 75 14-18 year old AGBM across the U.S. Qualitative … [Read more...]

Reisner SL, Greytak EA, Parsons JT, Ybarra ML. Gender minority social stress in adolescence: Disparities in adolescent bullying and substance use by gender identity. J Sex Res. 2015;52(3):243-56. doi: 10.1080/00224499.2014.886321. Abstract: Bullying and substance use represent serious public health issues facing adolescents in the United States. Few large-sample national studies have examined differences in these indicators by gender identity. The Teen Health and Technology Study (N=5,542) sampled adolescents ages 13 to 18 years old online. Weighted multivariable logistic regression models investigated disparities in substance use and tested a gender minority social stress hypothesis, comparing gender minority youth (i.e., who are transgender=gender nonconforming and have a gender … [Read more...]

Ybarra ML, Espelage DL, Mitchell KJ. Differentiating youth who are bullied from other victims of peer-aggression: The importance of differential power and repetition. J Adolesc Health. 2014;55(2):293-300. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2014.02.009 Abstract: PURPOSE: To examine whether (1) among youth who report being bullied, differential power and repetition are useful in identifying youth who are more or less affected by the victimization experience and (2) bullying and more generalized peer aggression are distinct or overlapping constructs. METHODS: Data for the Teen Health and Technology study were collected online between August 2010 and January 2011 from 3,989 13- to 18-year-olds. Data from the Growing up with Media study (Wave 3) were collected online in 2008 from 1,157 12- to … [Read more...]

Haroz EE, Ybarra ML, Eaton WW. Psychometric evaluation of a self-report scale to measure adolescent depression: The CESDR-10 in two national adolescent samples in the United States. J Affect Disord. 2014;158:154-160. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2014.02.009 Abstract: BACKGROUND: There is a need for brief instruments to screen for depression in adolescents that are valid, reliable and freely available. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of a 10-item version of the CESD-R (CESDR-10) in two national adolescent samples. METHODS: Sample 1 consisted of N=3777 youths (mean age 15.7) and Sample 2 contained N=1150 adolescents (mean age 14.5). We performed confirmatory factor analysis, evaluated construct validity, examined differential item functioning, and assessed … [Read more...]

Ybarra ML, Huesmann LR, Korchmaros JD, Reisner SL. Cross‐sectional associations between violent video and computer game playing and weapon carrying in a national cohort of children. Aggress Behav. 2014;40(4):345-358. doi: 10.1002/ab.21526 Abstract: Data were collected from 9 to 18 year olds surveyed nationally in a three‐wave longitudinal survey. The population‐average (generalized estimating equation, GEE) odds of carrying a weapon to school in the last month were estimated as a function of pastyear exposure to violent content in video, computer, and Internet games, as well as peer aggression and biological sex. The sample included youth who were at risk for both the exposure (i.e., game play) and the outcome (i.e., who attended public or private school). 3,397 observations from 1,489 … [Read more...]