This research will evaluate a new intervention that integrates evidence-based alcohol intervention strategies and promising sexual assault prevention strategies with the goal of decreasing sexual aggression among men who report heavy drinking; a particularly high risk group. Specifically, this study will conduct a randomized controlled pilot trial with college men who report heavy drinking to demonstrate the feasibility and acceptability of the proposed intervention. The main questions the study will answer are: 1) what is the feasibility of the recruitment plans, research design, intervention training methods, and delivery of the program?; and 2) does the intervention, relative to a mindfulness-based control condition, produce reductions in the quantity and frequency of alcohol use, perpetration of sexual aggression, and attitudes associated with sexual aggression over the 2- and 6-month follow-up. Follow-up assessments are completed at 2- and 6-months following the program. The intervention is compared to the mindfulness-based control group.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
115
SAFE includes a motivational interviewing session addressing alcohol use and risk for sexual aggression, a workshop addressing alcohol use and sexual aggression, and a booster session review.
The program includes the same amount of contacts as SAFE, including an individual session focused on mindfulness and stress, a group session, and a booster session review.
Rhode Island Hospital
Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Alcohol use, heavy drinking quantity
Number of heavy drinking days in the past month (Minimum = 0, Maximum = 31), assessed via the timeline follow-back. Greater scores mean worse outcomes.
Time frame: Change from baseline alcohol use at 6 months.
Alcohol use, drinks per week
The average number of drinks per week (Minimum = 0, Maximum = unspecified), assessed via the timeline follow-back. Greater scores mean worse outcomes.
Time frame: Change from baseline alcohol use at 6 months.
Sexual aggression perpetration
Assessed via the sexual experiences survey. Scored based on frequency and severity (Minimum = 0, Maximum = 63). Higher scores mean worse outcomes.
Time frame: Change in severity and frequency in comparison to control at 6-months.
Protective behavioral strategies
Assessed via the Self Control Questionnaire (Minimum = 37, Maximum = 185). Higher scores mean more positive outcomes.
Time frame: Change in protective behavioral strategy use in comparison to control at 6-months.
Perceived peer drinking norms
Assessed via the drinking norms rating form (Minimum = 0, Maximum = unspecified). Higher scores mean worse outcomes.
Time frame: Change in perceived peer norms relative to control at 6-months.
Perceived peer norms regarding sexual aggression: Perceived peer bystander intervention
Assessed via the sexual social norms inventory, perceived peer bystander intervention (Minimum = 8, Maximum = 40, higher scores better outcomes).
Time frame: Change in perceived peer bystander intervention in comparison to control at 6-months.
Perceived peer norms regarding sexual aggression: Perceived peer engagement in sexual coercion
Assessed via the sexual social norms inventory, regarding perceived peer engagement in sexual coercion (Minimum = 7, Maximum = 35, lower are better outcomes).
Time frame: Change in perceived peer engagement in comparison to control at 6-months.
Perceived peer norms regarding sexual aggression: Peer comfort with sexual aggression
Assessed via the sexual social norms inventory, perception of peer comfort with sexual aggression (Minimum = 7 , Maximum = 35, lower are better outcomes).
Time frame: Change in peer comfort with sexual aggression relative to control at 6-months.
Attitudes relating to sexual aggression: Rape myth acceptance
Assessed via the rape myth acceptance scale (Minimum = 7, Maximum = 140, higher are worse outcomes).
Time frame: Change in rape myth acceptance relative to control at 6-months.
Attitudes relating to sexual aggression: Hyper gender ideology
Assessed via the hyper gender ideology scale (Minimum = 19, Maximum = 114, higher scores are worse outcomes).
Time frame: Change in hyper gender ideology and increases relative to control at 6-months.
Attitudes relating to sexual aggression: Labeling of consent
Assessed via the labeling of consent scenarios (Minimum = 1, Maximum= 10, higher scores are better outcomes).
Time frame: Change in labeling of consent relative to control at 6-months.
Bystander intervention intention to help strangers
Assessed via the intentions to help strangers scale (Minimum = 0, Maximum = 800, higher scores are better outcomes).
Time frame: Change in intention to help strangers relative to control at 6-months.
Bystander intervention intention to help friends
Assessed via the bystander intentions to help friends scale (Minimum = 0, Maximum = 1000, higher scores are better outcomes).
Time frame: Change in intent to help friends relative to control at 6-months.
Bystander intervention attitudes
Assessed via the bystander attitudes scale (Minimum = 51, Maximum = 255, higher scores are better outcomes).
Time frame: Change in bystander attitudes relative to control at 6-months.
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