About P3

Learn more about P3

Prepping Parents for PrEP is a project created for parents of teen guys who are questioning their sexuality. Parents are the single most important source of education for their teen and this means you have a unique opportunity to teach them how to make right choices, be safe, and still have a good time creating new experiences. We believe that by educating parents about new ways to prevent HIV, they will, in turn, feel empowered to help their teens stay healthy, safe, and HIV negative.

Build Community

Through P3, you’ll be able to interact with other parents who might share the same concerns or have the same questions as you do.

Get Paid

If you’re eligible, and participate in both phases of the study, you could earn up to $80.

 

Be Prepared

Get the tools and information you need to help your teen make the best decisions for them.

What Teens Are Saying

According to some of our studies with teens, they’re worried about their parents’ reactions when they find out they’re having sex, or that they want to take prep. Here are some of their concerns. 

"Starting PrEP would imply that I'm sexually active and I don't think my family would be comfortable knowing that. As much as I want to ask them I also feel that it could put me in a rather uncomfortable situation."

– 14 year old

"I do not want to ask because asking for PrEP implies that I'm actively having sex with multiple partners. My parents don't like that I'm gay, and they have actively told me not to have sex with men. If they found out I was, i would be in serious trouble."

– 18 year old

"I would feel very uncomfortable if I had to ask my parents about this because they are very closed about sex, and are not open to talking about it. They would agree that I should not have sex and there is no reason to take it."

– 17 year old

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I’m not sure of my teen’s sexual orientation?

Talking with your teen about their sexual orientation is not easy and we know that. At this phase in our study, we’re only looking for parents who have talked with their teens about being gay, bi, or questioning. If you want to talk to you teen about his/her/their sexual orientation, please check out our resource page for tips.

What if I’m not comfortable with my teen’s sexuality?

We want P3 parents of all different comfort levels. Whether you’re really accepting, unsure how to be accepting, or just anxious about your teen, P3 will give you an outlet to talk about parenting a teen who is questioning his sexuality with trained health researchers. You may learn a lot about your teen through talking with others about their experiences. And participating may even help you feel more comfortable with your teen’s sexuality. Remember, you can stop participating at any time should you feel P3 discussions are too much for you.

Are there any risks to me or my teen(s)?

There are no more risk associated with P3 participation than you ordinarily would encounter during general internet use. In fact, there is even less risk. Your survey is kept confidential on our Northwestern servers and your participation in the interview is anonymous.

Why is this study for parents of gay, bisexual, or queer teen boys only?

Research shows that gay, bisexual, and questioning teen boys have unique health concerns. Parents of these teens may not always be clear or knowledgeable about these unique concerns. We’re focusing on parents of sexual minority teens because we’re hoping to better understand the barriers they face when trying to find information and then communicate it to their teens.

What will I need to do once I’m enrolled in the study?

Once you read and agree to the consent form sent to you by study staff, you will be asked to complete a confidential survey. Following the survey, several days later, we will ask you to participate in a phone interview. We will give you easy access through an anonymous call-in line. You and other parents just like you will be asked questions through the interview process. You should feel free to respond to the questions with as much detail as you want. Following, you will be given $40 for your time.

Can my co-parent, partner, or spouse also participate?

Yep! In fact, we would encourage it. Your co-parent, partner, or spouse can opt into an interview. You will not be able to see each other’s survey responses and interview answers. You will not be able to see each other’s responses to questions. If you have additional concerns but want both you and your co-parent, partner, or spouse to participant, please email us.

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