Emotion Regulation Interventions for Alcohol-Related Sexual Aggression

Not Applicable

Completed

Conditions: Sexual Aggression
Heavy Drinking

Interventions: Behavioral: Mindfulness
Behavioral: Cognitive Restructuring
Other: Alcohol consumption

Registration Number: NCT03159468

Lead Sponsor: University of Washington

Brief Summary: Rates of sexual assault are alarmingly high, and alcohol is consistently implicated in the majority of these assaults. Despite well-intentioned prevention efforts, this pandemic continues unabated, warranting the development of novel and innovative approaches to the reduction of sexual aggression. The goal of this research is to evaluate the efficacy of two brief online emotion regulation interventions for reducing alcohol-related sexual aggression in heavy episodic drinking young men with a sexual aggression history. Previous research suggests that emotion regulation difficulties are associated with both alcohol consumption and aggressive behavior. Despite the potential prevention utility of improving sexually aggressive men's emotion regulation skills in order to reduce their alcohol-related sexual aggression, this approach has yet to be explored. Thus, this study evaluates the effects of two brief online ER interventions - cognitive restructuring and mindfulness - on men's emotion regulation during a sexual aggression-related analogue. Additionally, these effects will be evaluated during both sober and intoxicated states through a laboratory- based alcohol administration experiment.

Detailed Description: Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: Male

Target Recruitment: 209

Inclusion Criteria

Single
Male
Age 21-30
Heterosexually active within past year
Heavy episodic drinker
Self-reported history of sexual aggression

Exclusion Criteria

History of alcohol problems
Medical condition or medications that contraindicate alcohol consumption

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: FACTORIAL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Mindfulness & Alcohol Condition	Mindfulness	Participants will receive a brief online training regarding the use of mindfulness skills to cope with negative emotions. They will then consume an alcoholic beverage in the lab.
Mindfulness & Alcohol Condition	Alcohol consumption	Participants will receive a brief online training regarding the use of mindfulness skills to cope with negative emotions. They will then consume an alcoholic beverage in the lab.
Cognitive Restructuring & No Alcohol Condition	Cognitive Restructuring	Participants will receive a brief online training regarding the use of cognitive restructuring skills to cope with negative emotions. They will then consume a non-alcoholic beverage in the lab.
Cognitive Restructuring & Alcohol Condition	Cognitive Restructuring	Participants will receive a brief online training regarding the use of cognitive restructuring skills to cope with negative emotions. They will then consume an alcoholic beverage in the lab.
Nutrition Information & Alcohol Condition	Alcohol consumption	Participants will receive general information about nutrition. They will then consume an alcoholic beverage in the lab.
Mindfulness & No Alcohol Condition	Mindfulness	Participants will receive a brief online training regarding the use of mindfulness skills to cope with negative emotions. They will then consume a non-alcoholic beverage in the lab.
Cognitive Restructuring & Alcohol Condition	Alcohol consumption	Participants will receive a brief online training regarding the use of cognitive restructuring skills to cope with negative emotions. They will then consume an alcoholic beverage in the lab.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Sexual Aggression Intentions	Within one hour after receiving the intervention	Sexual Aggression Intentions Scale. Construct: Self-reported ratings of sexual aggression likelihood in a hypothetical scenario. Minimum value of 1 ("Very unlikely"). Maximum value of 7 ("Very likely"). Higher scores mean a worse outcome.

Secondary Outcome Measures