Alcohol Drinking, Sexual Behavior
Conditions
Brief summary
The objective of the proposed project is to conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing sexual assault perpetration and related outcomes (i.e., bystander behavior; rape myth acceptance) for men who receive a group alcohol intervention only to men who receive a group integrated alcohol and sexual assault intervention.
Detailed description
Although research suggests that sexual assault interventions based on Bystander and Social Norms theory help to reduce sexual assault among college men, these programs do not completely eliminate sexual assault and their effects tend to fade over time. Unfortunately, there is minimal research on whether (1) decreasing alcohol use concurrently decreases sexual assault perpetration among college men and (2) whether alcohol interventions can be incorporated into existing sexual assault programs for college men (i.e., Bystander/Social Norms programs). Therefore, the objective of the proposed project is to conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing sexual assault perpetration and related outcomes (i.e., bystander behavior; rape myth acceptance) for men who receive a group alcohol intervention only to men who receive a group integrated alcohol and sexual assault intervention. Specifically, the alcohol only intervention will consist of the Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS), an empirically-supported intervention for college student drinking. The integrated alcohol and sexual assault intervention, which we have termed Ohio University's Combined Alcohol and Normative Intervention program (OU CAN), will be modeled after BASICS and empirically-supported Bystander and Social Norms interventions for sexual assault. The current study will recruit 100 college men who are sanctioned by their university to receive an alcohol intervention for violating a campus alcohol policy: by definition an indicated and at-risk population for sexual assault perpetration. Men will be followed for 6 months to determine the effects of the intervention on sexual assault perpetration and other primary outcomes (e.g., bystander behavior).
Interventions
BEHAVIORALBASICS
A one session intervention focused on reducing drinking with motivational interviewing
BEHAVIORALIntegrated BASICS
A one session intervention focused on reducing drinking and sexual behavior while drinking
BEHAVIORALRelaxation
A one session intervention focused on increasing relaxation skills
BEHAVIORALIntegrated Bystander
A one session intervention focused on reducing sexual assault with a focus on the role of alcohol
Sponsors
U.S. Department of Justice
Ohio University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Must be 18 or older; must be an Ohio University student; must be male; must be sanctioned to receive an alcohol intervention by Ohio University
Exclusion criteria
* Under the age of 18
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sexual Experiences Survey | 6 months post-intervention | A self-report measure that examines potential sexual assault behaviors |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Bystander Behavior Scale | 6 months post-intervention | A self-report measure that examines opportunities and engagement in prosocial bystander behavior. |
| Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale | 6 months post-intervention | A self-report measure that examines rape supportive beliefs |
| Sexual Social Norms Inventory | 6 months post-intervention | A self-report measure that examines sexual normative beliefs |
| Alcohol use Disorders Identification Test | 6 months post-intervention | A self-report measure that examines alcohol use |
| Comprehensive Effects of Alcohol | 6 months post-intervention | A self-report measure that examines expectancies of alcohol use |
Outcome results
None listed