Hazardous alcohol use, sexually transmitted infections, and sexual violence are interrelated and highly prevalent public health concerns in college student populations. The current study seeks to develop a tri-pronged sex-positive intervention that addresses risky alcohol use, unsafe sex, and sexual violence for college men and women (ages 18-24). The study involves a small randomized pilot trial to demonstrate the feasibility and acceptability of the recruitment methods and research design. Preliminary evidence of intervention efficacy will also be evaluated.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
274
Two-session in person group discussions focusing on behaviors in drinking contexts
Two-session in person group discussions focusing on college health behaviors
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States
Primary Outcome: Program Satisfaction as Assessed by the Acceptance Questionnaire After First Intervention Session
Satisfaction with the program content after Session 1. Percent of participants reporting they were moderately-to-very satisfied with the program.
Time frame: Immediate post intervention (same day as intervention), after first session on day 1
Program Satisfaction as Assessed by the Acceptance Questionnaire After Second Session
Satisfaction with the program content after session 2. Percent of participants reporting that they were moderately-to-very satisfied with the program. For participants who did not attend the first session this occurred on Day 1. For Participants who did attend the first session this occurred around Day 14 (range between day 12 and 17)
Time frame: Immediate post intervention (same day as intervention), after second session on ~Day 14
Heavy Alcohol Use
Number of standard drinks consumed in a typical week over the past 30 days
Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 month follow-up
Alcohol Use Before or During Sex
Participants reported if they drank alcohol before or during sex in the past 30 days (code as yes = 1 or no = 0).
Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 month follow-up
Bystander Behaviors Willingness Questionnaire
Willingness to engage in bystander behaviors. Mean scale scores range from 1 to 7. Higher scores indicate more greater willingness to engage in bystander behaviors.
Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 month follow-up
Bystander Behaviors Self-efficacy Questionnaire
Confidence to engage in bystander behaviors. Higher scores indicate more greater confidence in ability to engage in bystander behaviors. Mean scale scores range from 1 to 5.
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Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 month follow-up
Alcohol and Sex Related Protective Behavioral Strategies Use
Self-reported frequency of using strategies to reduce alcohol risks and promote positive sexual experiences \[unpublished measure\]. Higher scores indicate more frequent use of protective strategies. Scores range from 0 to 5 for both subscales.
Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 month follow-up
Perceived Student Drinking Norms as Assessed by the Drinking Norms Rating Form
Perceived descriptive norms are assessed using a variation on the Drinking Norms Rating Form. Respondents estimate the number of standard drinks consumed by other students on their campus for each day in a typical week in the past 30 days; daily estimates are summed to yield perceived number of drinks per week for student peers; range of scores can go from zero to no upper limit
Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 month follow-up
Perceived Student Sex Norms as Assessed by a Sex Norms Questionnaire
Respondents estimate the percent of same-campus peers who use alcohol before or during sex
Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 month follow-up