text4FATHER R21: Social Media - Efficacy Trial

Last updated: September 17, 2025
Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

N/A

Treatment

text4FATHER

Clinical Study ID

NCT06289101
IRB00422008
R21HD112617
  • Ages > 18
  • All Genders
  • Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Summary

This project will be the first to examine the efficacy of a text messaging intervention designed to recruit first-time fathers-to-be using social media across the U.S. to become involved during pregnancy through two months of postnatal age to support infant, mother, and father well-being.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Aged ≥18 years

  • Live in the U.S.

  • Speak English

  • Mother gestational age at enrollment less than 25 weeks

  • First-time father-to-be

  • Willing/able to receive texts.

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals who are minors

  • Do not speak English

  • Unable to provide informed consent

  • Not a first-time father

  • Not willing/unable to receive texts

  • In the past 12 months, any safety concern reported between father-to-be and themother-to-be, including report of any physical, emotional, sexual harm, threateningbehaviors, police involvement, restraining or protective order

Study Design

Total Participants: 180
Treatment Group(s): 1
Primary Treatment: text4FATHER
Phase:
Study Start date:
September 10, 2024
Estimated Completion Date:
August 31, 2026

Study Description

Father engagement in the prenatal and infant periods is associated with improved infant outcomes (e.g., physical, social and emotional health and development), and mother and father well-being. However, this key window of opportunity has been insufficiently leveraged to promote father engagement, especially, first-time fathers-to-be.

text4FATHER, a multi-modal text messaging program, is designed to increase first-time fathers' knowledge, self-efficacy, and behavioral engagement. text4FATHER sends texts twice-weekly to fathers with threaded content to support infant, partner, and father well-being including resource weblinks to support behavior change from mid-pregnancy through 2 months postnatally. Text content was developed using formative research and feedback from the target population, consensus building with experts, and an evidence-based review.

Connect with a study center

  • Johns Hopkins Hospital

    Baltimore, Maryland 21287
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Johns Hopkins University

    Baltimore, Maryland 21287
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Johns Hopkins University

    Baltimore 4347778, Maryland 4361885 21287
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

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