An interventional study of Ecological Momentary Intervention in Sexual Assault, Substance Use and Risky Health Behavior, sponsored by University of New Mexico. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to female participants aged 18 Years to 24 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-04-02.
Sponsored by University of New Mexico · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention
Sexual assault on college campuses has reached epidemic proportions, yet the etiological variables responsible for violence against women in these contexts remain unclear. Work on the situational precipitants of sexual assault has relied primarily on women's retrospective accounts, but research has shown that autobiographical memory is plagued by error. This study will use Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) to obtain a better understanding of the contextual determinants of sexual assault, as well as the co-occurrence of victimization, risky sex, and substance use. These findings will inform the development of an Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI) that will provide college women with personalized feedback about their level of risk for victimization and related adverse events. The effectiveness of EMA/EMI in decreasing rates of sexual assault, risky sexual behavior, and substance use then will be evaluated relative to an EMA-only and an assessment-only control group.
Sexual assault is a significant public health problem. The sequelae of victimization involve both mental and physical health problems (Bedard-Gilligan et al., 2011; Hughes et al., 2010), and once victimized, women are at significant increased risk for revictimization (Classen et al., 2005; Messman-Moore \& Long, 2003). Sexual assault has reached epidemic proportions on college campuses, with undergraduate women reporting high rates of victimization (Krebs et al., 2007). Alcohol use is intimately intertwined with sexual violence (Abbey, 2011), as well as high-risk sexual behavior (Scott-Sheldon et al., 2010). Work on the situational precipitants of sexual assault has relied primarily on women's retrospective accounts, even though autobiographical memory is plagued by error (Bradburn et al., 1987).
One way to obtain ecologically valid observations of these precipitants may be through Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA). EMA data are collected in near realtime and are considered to have greater validity than retrospective accounts (Shiffman et al., 2008). The primary aim of this study will be to use EMA to obtain a better understanding of the contextual determinants of sexual assault, as well as the co-occurrence of victimization, risky sex, and substance use. This basic work then will inform the development of an Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI) for college women to reduce their risk. EMI would permit an opportunity to intervene prior to and during high-risk situations by providing women with personalized feedback about their level of risk for victimization and related adverse events. The secondary aim of this study will be to conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing the effectiveness of EMA/EMI, relative to EMA-only and an assessment only control group, in decreasing rates of sexual assault, risky sexual behavior, and substance use. This RCT will be prospective in design and target women who are at increased risk for assault (freshman). If supported, this work would offer college campuses a cost-effective, easily disseminated approach to preventing assault and other adverse consequences.
2,124 studies on the registry are indexed under Substance-Related Disorders; 393 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 183 is above the median of 108 across 1,727 interventional studies indexed under Substance-Related Disorders.
Browse Substance-Related Disorders studies →University of New Mexico is the lead sponsor of 306 studies on the registry; 28 are open to participants now.
Of its 25 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 23 (92%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Exclusion Criteria:
To examine situational precipitants of sexual assault, risky sexual behavior, and substance-use among freshman women (N=100) using EMA for 6 weeks. To examine within- and between-persons factors that may influence the relationships among these situational precipitants and adverse consequences.
To gather preliminary research about the feasibility of an EMI sexual assault intervention prior to an experimental condition. A small group of freshman women (N=20) will participate in an EMI protocol for six weeks, followed by providing feedback about their experience, including issues with phrasing, technical issues, and convenience.
Behavioral: Ecological Momentary Intervention
To examine whether an EMA/EMI condition, relative to an EMA-only and a minimal assessment-only condition, decreases incidents of sexual assault, risky sexual behavior, and alcohol use among freshman women (N=288). It is hypothesized that the 6-week EMA/EMI condition, relative to the other conditions, will be associated with lower rates of assault, risky sexual sex, and substance use from baseline to a 6-month followup.
Behavioral: Ecological Momentary Intervention
Participants will receive hypothetical and real-time behavioral feedback using a smartphone application which provides ecological momentary responses to their current behaviors. By providing safety tips and advice, the intervention may decrease incidences of sexual assault and risky sex compared to a control group.
Sexual Experiences Survey
Measures victimization at a six month follow-up
Time frame: Six Weeks
The Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index
The RAPI is a 23-item questionnaire developed specifically to evaluate alcohol-related problems of adolescents. The measure has high internal consistency, with alpha = .92 in a sample of adolescents from 12 to 21.
Time frame: Six Weeks
Sexual Risk Measure
The SRM was developed by Consultant Bryan (Schmiege et al., 2009) and measures condom use, frequency of intercourse, and sexual behavior under the influence of alcohol. A risky sex index is calculated such that higher scores indicate riskier sexual behavior.
Time frame: Six Weeks
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
This study is completed, as verified in Apr 2024. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
University of New Mexico