Motivations, Attitudes, and Perceptions Study

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Alcohol Drinking; Social Norms; Sexual Violence

• Registration Number: NCT05873413
• Lead Sponsor: University of Nebraska Lincoln

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the impact of providing participants with

1. A recently developed protocol for motivating bystanders to intervene to help others who are in sexual risk situations (Motivate-the-Bystander) alone

2. Motivate-the-Bystander with an alcohol component focused on reducing drinking behaviors (Motivate-the-Bystander+Alcohol)

3. A control condition focused on reducing stress

The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Is Motivate-the-Bystander more effective than the attention control for increasing bystander behaviors?

* Is Motivate-the-Bystander+Alcohol more effective than MTB alone for increasing bystander behaviors?

* Is Motivate-the-Bystander+Alcohol more effective than Motivate-the-Bystander alone for decreasing alcohol use during bystander intervention opportunities?

Participants will:

* Complete online measures (e.g., self-reported bystander behaviors, past bystander training, history of bystander intervention attempts, sexual experiences, drinking behaviors, and other substance use behaviors)

* Complete either MTB, MTB+ALC, or the attention control condition online

* Complete the virtual reality simulation in the lab

* Complete electronic daily diary follow-up surveys about alcohol use and bystander intervention

Detailed Description

During young adulthood, an estimated one in five women experience sexual assault. The investigators seek to reduce this violence by motivating young adults to intervene with their peers to prevent sexual assault-an approach known as bystander intervention. Current bystander training is conducted in group sessions involving education about how to recognize and intervene in response to sexual risk situations. Although successful in changing knowledge and attitudes about sexual assault prevention, evaluations of these programs have rarely focused on changing actual bystander behaviors. Further, while bystander alcohol use is common in sexual risk situations, and undermines intervention attempts, alcohol consumption by bystanders is not explicitly targeted in existing intervention training programs. To address these gaps, the investigators will conduct a RCT comparing the efficacy of: 1) the recently developed bystander intervention, Motivate-the-Bystander (MTB), 2) MTB with an MI alcohol component (MTB+ALC), and 3) an attention control condition for reducing alcohol use and increasing bystander behaviors in response to sexual risk. Bystander behaviors will be assessed observationally during a virtual reality-based house party at 2 months post intervention. Participants' bystander behaviors, alcohol use, and relevant contextual variables will be assessed with an EMA measurement design using electronic daily diaries at baseline and weekly post intervention until month 9. The investigators expect that, compared to MTB alone and the control condition, MTB+ALC will produce significantly greater reductions in overall drinking and increases in prosocial bystander behaviors in a diverse sample of 450 young adults who are heavy drinkers. If the hypotheses are confirmed, results will support use of the combined MI-based bystander-alcohol intervention as an effective means of reducing drinking and motivating bystander behaviors among those at highest risk for sexual violence.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2023-05-01
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-05-15
• Study First Posted: 2023-05-24
• Study Start: 2024-03-01
• Status Verified: 2025-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-01-10
• Last Update Posted: 2025-01-14
• Primary Completion: 2026-05-31
• Study Completion: 2026-05-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 450

Inclusion Criteria

• Individuals ages 18-25
• Heavy drinkers (as defined by using the AUDIT)
• English fluency
• Community members from Lancaster and surrounding counties in Nebraska
• Signed and dated consent form
• Stated willingness to comply with study procedures

Exclusion Criteria

This project does not have any pre-determined exclusion criteria beyond the need to meet inclusion criteria for the study.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Observational bystander behavior	1-week follow-up	Bystander behavior is assessed with a virtual environment called Bystander in Sexual Assault Virtual Environments (B-SAVE). Participants experience a virtual "house party" and are exposed to 10 situations in which they can intervene or not. Responses are recorded and coded for the presence and effectiveness of intervention attempts.
Alcohol use	months 0-9	Alcohol use quantity is assessed with electronic daily diaries weekly for 9 months.
Daily self-reports of bystander behavior	months 0-9	Bystander behavior is assessed with electronic daily diaries weekly for 9 months.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Nebraska-Lincoln; 🇺🇸 Lincoln, Nebraska, United States