Emotion Regulation Interventions for Alcohol-Related Sexual Aggression

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

Official Title
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Alcohol-Related Sexual Aggression: An Emotion Regulation Intervention

Conditions
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Sexual Aggression, Heavy Drinking

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Cognitive Restructuring
* Behavioral: Mindfulness
* Other: Alcohol consumption


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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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

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 21 Years
Maximum Age: 30 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Cognitive Restructuring & Alcohol Condition<br>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. | Behavioral: Cognitive Restructuring<br>* Participants receive didactic instruction regarding cognitive restructuring skills and then practice using these skills in hypothetical situations.<br>Other: Alcohol consumption<br>* Participants consume an alcoholic beverage in the lab.<br>|
| Experimental: Mindfulness & Alcohol Condition<br>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. | Behavioral: Mindfulness<br>* Participants receive didactic instruction regarding mindfulness skills and then practice using these skills in hypothetical situations.<br>Other: Alcohol consumption<br>* Participants consume an alcoholic beverage in the lab.<br>|
| Experimental: Nutrition Information & Alcohol Condition<br>Participants will receive general information about nutrition. They will then consume an alcoholic beverage in the lab. | Other: Alcohol consumption<br>* Participants consume an alcoholic beverage in the lab.<br>|
| Experimental: Cognitive Restructuring & No Alcohol Condition<br>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. | Behavioral: Cognitive Restructuring<br>* Participants receive didactic instruction regarding cognitive restructuring skills and then practice using these skills in hypothetical situations.<br>|
| Experimental: Mindfulness & No Alcohol Condition<br>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. | Behavioral: Mindfulness<br>* Participants receive didactic instruction regarding mindfulness skills and then practice using these skills in hypothetical situations.<br>|
| No Intervention: Nutrition Information & No Alcohol Condition<br>Participants will receive general information about nutrition. They will then consume a non-alcoholic beverage in the lab. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sexual Aggression Intentions | 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. | Within one hour after receiving the intervention |