A randomized controlled trial targeting alcohol use and sexual assault risk among college women at high risk for victimization. (November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gilmore, Amanda K.; Lewis, Melissa A.; George, William H.
• Is Part Of: Behaviour research and therapy. Volume 74(2015)
• Page Start: 38
• Page End: 49
• Publication Date: 2015-11
• Subjects: Sexual assault -- Sexual revictimization -- Alcohol -- College women -- Web-based intervention; Cognitive therapy -- Periodicals; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; 616.891
• DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2015.08.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0005-7967

Abstract

Abstract: Sexual assault risk reduction programs do not target alcohol use despite the widespread knowledge that alcohol use is a risk factor for being victimized. The current study assessed the effectiveness of a web-based combined sexual assault risk and alcohol use reduction program using a randomized control trial. A total of 207 college women between the ages of 18 and 20 who engaged in heavy episodic drinking were randomized to one of five conditions: full assessment only control condition, sexual assault risk reduction condition, alcohol use reduction condition, combined sexual assault risk and alcohol use reduction condition, and a minimal assessment only condition. Participants completed a 3-month follow-up survey on alcohol-related sexual assault outcomes, sexual assault outcomes, and alcohol use outcomes. Significant interactions revealed that women with higher severity of sexual assault at baseline experienced less incapacitated attempted or completed rapes, less severity of sexual assaults, and engaged in less heavy episodic drinking compared to the control condition at the 3-month follow-up. Web-based risk reduction programs targeting both sexual assault and alcohol use may be the most effective way to target the highest risk sample of college students for sexual assault: those with a sexual assault history and those who engage in heavy episodic drinking. Highlights: We targeted alcohol use and sexual assault risk in college women. Web-based personalized feedback was used in the intervention conditions. Targeting both alcohol use and sexual assault risk reduced sexual re-victimization. Dissemination of this intervention is promising for college campuses.