Efficacy of a Web-based Sexual Violence Risk Reduction Program for Female College Students

Not Applicable

Completed

Conditions: Sexual Violence

Interventions: Behavioral: RealConsent
Behavioral: Stress and Mood Management

Registration Number: NCT03726437

Lead Sponsor: Georgia State University

Brief Summary: This study evaluates the efficacy of a web-based program for female college freshmen ("RealConsent") in reducing their risk of sexual violence victimization. Half the participants will receive RealConsent-F and half will receive an attention-placebo control ("Stress and Mood Management").

Detailed Description: Sexual assault of college women is a serious and complex public health problem: one in five college women report being sexually assaulted. The purpose of this study is to conduct a randomized controlled trial study with 750 female college students from three universities to test the efficacy of RealConsent, a sexual violence risk reduction program for college women, compared to an attention-placebo control. RealConsent is a multi-media 3-hour program based on social cognitive theory and alcohol myopia theory. The primary outcome will be self-reported sexual violence victimization and the secondary outcomes will be alcohol and dating protective- and risk-related behaviors and resistance strategies. The investigators expect that women in the treatment group will report less sexual violence victimization than women in the control group. Expected outcomes are demonstrated feasibility and efficacy of a technologically novel risk reduction program for female college students.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: Female

Target Recruitment: 881

Inclusion Criteria

female, aged 18-20 years, full-time freshmen, matriculated at Georgia State University, Emory University, or University of Georgia, and single (i.e., not in a committed dating relationship).

Exclusion Criteria

other education levels, married, and/or graduate status

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
RealConsent	RealConsent	A 3-hour web-based program designed to teach female college freshmen strategies to reduce their risk of sexual violence victimization.
Stress and Mood Management	Stress and Mood Management	A 3-hour general mental health web-based program.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change From Baseline in Sexual Violence Victimization at 6-months Follow-up	Baseline to 6-months	Sexual assault victimization was assessed with Revised Sexual Experience Survey. Participants were asked how often they experienced 7 unwanted sexual experiences. Also, the tactic that was used ("using force") was also noted. Response options ranged from 0 (never) to 3 (3+times). An overall score for the SES, was calculated by summing each outcome and tactic score ("SOTS") with a range from 0 to 135- with higher scores indicating more sexual violence victimization. The 2nd method combines several of the outcomes, but keeps tactics separate, resulting in a potential range of 0 to 63.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change From Baseline in "Number of Times Engaged in Binge Drinking" to 6-months	Baseline to 6-months	Participants were asked at baseline and at 6-month follow-up, to report: "In the past 30 days, the number of times four or more drinks were consumed in one setting."
Change From Baseline in Alcohol Protective Behaviors at 6 Months	Baseline to 6 months	Alcohol protective behaviors was measured by a scale developed by Martens et al., 2005 that included 15 protective strategies (e.g.., "alternate alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks") that asked participants if they had engaged in within the last 3 months. with response options of Never (1) to Always (5). Responses were summed across the 15 items. Potential range was 15 to 75. Higher scores indicated MORE protective strategies were used.
Change From Baseline in Dating Risk Behaviors at 6-months Follow-up	Baseline to 6 months	Dating Risk Behaviors were measured by the Dating Behavior Survey created by Hanson \& Gidycz, 1993. The scale consists of 15 items that assess different situational variables (e.g., "consuming alcohol on the first date") that have been found to be related to sexual violence victimization. Participants are asked to respond how often they have engaged in the behavior on the first few dates with a new partner. Response options ranged from Never (1) to Always (5). Scores are summed and higher scores indicate engaging in MORE risk behaviors. Overall scores can range from 15 to 75.
Change From Baseline in Bystander Behavior at 6-months	Baseline to 6-months	Bystander behavior was assessed using the 20-item Bystander Behavior Scale. Items assessed whether participants engaged in bystander behaviors in the past three months and included items such as, "If I saw someone taking a very intoxicated person up to their room, I said something and asked what the friend was doing." Higher scores indicate a better outcome of engaging in more prosocial behaviors. Min value=0; Max value=60.
Change From Baseline in "Average Number of Alcoholic Drinks Per Occasion in Last 30 Days" to 6-months	baseline to 6-months	Participants were asked at baseline and at 6-month follow-up to report, "the average number of alcoholic drinks consumed per occasion in the last 30 days."