June 11, 2026, Durham, NC – iRT is pleased to announce that researchers Dr. Tracy Scull, Dr. Christina Dodson, Dr. Janis Kupersmidt, Dr. Reina Evans-Paulson, Dr. Katie Stump, and Liz Reeder have published a new study in Prevention Science, the flagship journal of the Society for Prevention Research.

The article, Long-Term Efficacy of a Web-Based Sexual Health Promotion Program Using a Media Literacy Education Approach in a National Sample of Community College Students, examines the effectiveness of iRT’s evidence-based sexual health education program, Media Aware, among community college students across the United States.

Meeting the Sexual Health Needs of Community College Students

Community college students represent nearly half of all undergraduate students in the United States, yet they remain an underserved and under researched population when it comes to sexual health education and resources. Research has shown that community college students are often less likely than students at four-year institutions to receive access to comprehensive sexual health services and may face increased risks for unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

To help address these gaps, iRT conducted the Community College Health Study and developed Media Aware, a web-based sexual health education program that utilizes media literacy education to help young adults critically analyze media messages about sex and provides comprehensive, medically accurate education on sex and relationships.

The recent study evaluated Media Aware using a cluster randomized controlled trial involving 1,139 students from 23 community college campuses across the United States. Students were assigned to either complete the Media Aware program or participate in a waitlist control group. iRT researchers examined whether the program produced long-term changes in students’ media literacy and sexual health outcomes over a 12-month period.

Key Findings

The study found that students who completed Media Aware demonstrated significant long-term improvements in several important areas compared to students in the control group.

Twelve months after completing the program, students who used Media Aware:

  • Reported healthier normative beliefs about risky sexual behaviors
  • Viewed media messages as less realistic
  • Demonstrated stronger critical thinking about media portrayals of sex and relationships

These findings suggest that Media Aware can produce long-term changes in the ways students interpret media messages and think about sexual health.

While the study did not find significant long-term differences in reported sexual health behaviors between groups, iRT’s researchers note that broader community and systemic barriers may impact students’ ability to translate knowledge and intentions from taking Media Aware into long-term behavior change. These findings highlight the importance of integrating programs like Media Aware into broader, campus-wide efforts to improve access to sexual health resources and services.

Advancing Sexual Health Education Through Media Literacy

Media Aware is a uniquely powerful sexual health promotion program because it is grounded in media literacy education, an approach that teaches students to critically evaluate media messages and understand how media influences beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors.

Coupled with the program’s coverage of a wide range of sexual health topics (e.g., healthy relationships, consent and communication, STI and pregnancy prevention, interpersonal violence prevention), Media Aware’s media literacy education approach helps students develop the skills needed to navigate today’s complex media environment and make informed decisions about their health.

Learn more about Media Aware and receive a free demo of the course by visiting https://mediaawarecollegeprograms.com/.

Continuing the Research

This publication represents another important milestone in iRT’s ongoing efforts to develop and evaluate evidence-based programs that promote health and well-being. The findings contribute to a growing body of research demonstrating the value of media literacy education as a tool for improving health outcomes among young adults and highlight the potential of Media Aware to support community colleges in addressing students’ sexual and relationship health needs.

Read the full article in Prevention Science to learn more about the study and its findings.