Thriving Relationships Lab at Arizona State University School of Social Work
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​Our Projects

We are engaged in several research projects in collaboration with local community partners. We use survey, focus group, and community-based participatory Photovoice methodologies to promote positive youth development and prevent teen dating abuse. Please see below for information on our current and future projects. 



​Digital Dating Abuse: Teen dating abuse in the digital world

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Digital Media

As digital media use (social media, mobile phones, Internet) becomes increasingly widespread among youth, so do concerns that these media may be a tool for teen dating abuse. Digital dating abuse (DDA) is defined as "a repeated pattern of digital behaviors to pressure, coerce, harass, or threaten a dating partner using mobile phones or the Internet." 
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Digital Dating Abuse

DDA is a common social issue for teens, and there is a strong link between in-person forms of abuse (physical, sexual, or psychological) and digital abuse (monitoring, control, harassment, humiliation, sexual abuse, sexual coercion). All teens experience DDA, but girls, youth of color, and sexual minority youth are most impacted. 
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Research 

Our team conducts research on the prevalence of digital dating abuse, how to measure it, motivations to perpetrate, coercive sexting in relationships, and impacts on victims. Dr. Reed created one of the first survey measures of Digital Dating Abuse and has been studying this issue for over a decade. Dr. Reed is passionate about how to measure the gendered motivations, experience, and consequences of digital abuse. 
See the "Publications" tab on this site to view some of our recent work. 



​High School Youth Participatory Action Project

Poli Sci Club


Our team has partnered with high school students at Maryvale High School in Phoenix, where an incredible group of young social justice leaders are forming a student-led club- the Poli Sci Club- to engage their peers and community in social issues that are important to them.
We have received two years of funding from the ASU Watts College for Public Service and Community Solutions to support this club's work, conduct a Photovoice project, and hire graduating students to be college peer advisors and provide mentoring for the high school students. 

Using youth participatory methods, we hope to study how this model may be effective in empowering teens to take leadership roles in social action, particularly for youth of color and first generation college students. ​



​​How do Today's College Students Experience Dating Relationships?


​To inform the development of inclusive, dynamic, and relevant relationship education tools and curriculum that promotes thriving relationships free from abuse, our team is conducting focus groups with undergraduate college students on how they think about dating and the peer norms around dating in their social circles. 



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The groups are facilitated by an undergraduate student and co-facilitated by a member of our team.
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We are recruiting fraternity and sorority members, student athletes, LGBTQ+, International students, and the general study body for these focus groups. 
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We are grateful to be collaborating on this project with the ASU Sexual & Relationship Violence Prevention program, to inform their relationship education programming for ASU students.

Photovoice

Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) Project

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​Photovoice


Photovoice involves training youth to use photography and videography to develop critical conversations about issues of concern in their community.​ Starting in May 2020, Maryvale High School students will use photos, videos, and social media to explore issues in their community. 
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Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) Project


YPAR produces co-generated knowledge from youth and adult partnerships where youth are engaged in every phase of a project to address social problems. This project uses Photovoice methods to allow youth to explore and express their perspectives about their community during COVID-19.
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Faculty Consultant
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​ Dr. Diana Santacrose
Diana.Santacrose@lmu.edu 
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, California






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