Research Symposium

BIO

Bereline Jean is a first-year student at Florida State University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with minors in Child Development and Psychology. Originally from Naples, Florida, she previously earned her Associate of Arts degree from Florida SouthWestern State College. She is currently a participant in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program for the 2025–2026 academic year.

Through this program, Bereline conducts research with the Institute of Digital Health and Innovation in the College of Nursing under the mentorship of Julia Brasileiro, Laura Widman, and Anderson Schlupp. Her work contributes to research examining digital health interventions and adolescent sexual health, providing experience in literature analysis, research design, and academic presentation. Her broader scholarly interests focus on the intersection of mental health, patient-centered care, and health equity, particularly among underserved populations.

Beyond her research involvement, Bereline is active in campus leadership and community engagement. She serves in Student Government as a College of Nursing Senator and is involved with the National Residence Hall Honorary and the Inter-Residence Hall Council, where she serves as Wildwood Hall Historian. She also serves as Outreach Chair for The Philanthropist In You and Traditions Programming Chair for FSU Homecoming. Her academic achievements have been recognized through the College Board National African American Recognition Program and the National First-Generation Recognition Program.

Following the completion of her undergraduate studies, Bereline plans to pursue a Doctor of Nursing Practice and become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

Youth-Informed Multimedia Innovation to Strengthen Parent-Adolescent Sexual Health Communication

Abstract

Early adolescence (ages 10-13) is a critical developmental period marked by puberty, identity formation, and increasing curiosity about bodies and relationships. Research demonstrates that parent-adolescent sexual health communication is associated with delayed sexual initiation and greater engagement in protective behaviors; however, embarrassment, stigma, and low communication self-efficacy often limit open discussion. Digital health interventions have expanded access to sexual health education, yet few platforms meaningfully incorporate youth perspectives or model realistic family communication. This project contributes to the refinement of Let’s Talk, a two-user digital platform designed to strengthen parent-adolescent communication about sexual health. A Youth Advisory Board collaborated to develop a semi-structured interview guide used to explore adolescents’ emotional reactions, perceived awkwardness, representation, tone preferences, and perceived communication impact. Thematic analysis identifies barriers to comfort and opportunities for youth-informed multimedia design. Findings inform the development of Birds & the Bees with Bereline, a youth-centered video series integrated within the platform to normalize developmental curiosity, reduce stigma, and model supportive family dialogue. This work demonstrates how youth engagement can guide the development of scalable digital health tools that support effective, family-centered sexual health communication.

Keywords: Adolescent Sexual Health; Digital Health Interventions; Youth-Informed Research; Parent-Adolescent Communication; Health Education