Measuring Risk and Protection in the Lives of Black Girls
Research by Natasha Crooks and Nyssa Snow-Hill advances measurement of adultification, messaging, and protection in adolescence
A new study with Natasha Crooks and Nyssa Snow-Hill, affiliates of the Center for Dissemination and Implementation Science (CDIS), presents the Risk, Adultification, Messaging, and Protection Scale (RAMPS), a culturally grounded tool designed to better measure the social and developmental experiences of Black girls. Drawing on survey responses from 575 Black girls ages 9–18, the study validates a four-factor model capturing adultification, sexual health messaging, and protective practices. Results demonstrate strong reliability and consistency across age groups, offering researchers a rigorous and age-invariant measure to support equity-focused adolescent health research.
Why It Matters
Black girls are often subjected to adultification and inconsistent protection while navigating adolescence, yet these experiences are rarely captured by existing research tools. Without culturally grounded measures, it is difficult to design, implement, and evaluate interventions that accurately address their needs. The RAMPS scale fills this gap by offering a validated framework to measure how adultification, sexual health messaging, and protection shape sexual development and health risk. This tool enables researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to better understand disparities, inform culturally responsive interventions, and advance equity in adolescent and sexual health outcomes.
