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Napper LE, Kenney SR, Johnson NL, Wolter LC, Orchowski LM. College students' perceptions of positive and negative drinking-related sexual experiences. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH : J OF ACH 2024:1-8. [PMID: 38713853 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2024.2338421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
Objective: During young adulthood, drinking and sexual behaviors are both normative and inextricably linked. While this association is well documented, little is known about how students define positive and negative drinking-related sexual experiences. Methods: Thirty-five undergraduates participated in a focus group about sexual experiences in the context of drinking. Thematic analysis was utilized to identify themes in the data. Results: Students' descriptions of positive drinking-related sexual encounters included having a good time, feeling safe, maintaining control over alcohol, as well as feeling safe in drinking contexts where sexual partners are located. Students' perceptions of negative experiences included specific consequences such as a damaged reputation, loss of control due to alcohol, and concern of engagement in sex when they or a partner was too intoxicated to consent. Conclusion: Gaining a better understanding of how college students view positive and negative drinking-related sexual experiences could inform interventions aimed at promoting student well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy E Napper
- Department of Psychology and Health, Medicine, and Society Program, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Shannon R Kenney
- Behavioral Medicine and Addictions Research, Butler Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Nicole L Johnson
- College of Education, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Laura C Wolter
- Department of Psychology and Health, Medicine, and Society Program, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Lindsay M Orchowski
- Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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Marcantonio TL, Haikalis M, Misquith C, Leone RM. Alcohol's Effects on the Bystander Decision-Making Model: A Systematic Literature Review. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2024; 61:783-798. [PMID: 38010804 PMCID: PMC11105993 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2023.2267547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
To decrease rates of sexual assault victimization, young people are encouraged to become involved when they see questionable sexual situations (i.e., be a prosocial bystander). Several factors can facilitate or inhibit intervention, including alcohol use. To inform bystander prevention programs that aim to address alcohol's impact on bystanders, the current study reviewed research focused on alcohol use and bystander decision making. In December 2022, the authors searched published studies from six major electronic databases. Empirical articles were deemed eligible if they examined alcohol and the bystander decision-making model within the context of sexual assault, were based in the United States or Canada, and not an intervention study; 32 studies were included in the final review. Across 32 studies published between 2015-2022, 12 assessed the proximal effects of alcohol on bystander constructs and the additional studies examined the distal effects of alcohol on bystander constructs. Alcohol use appeared to impede earlier steps of the bystander decision-making model; however, alcohol use was associated with impeding and facilitating bystander decision making at the latter half of the model. Overall, alcohol use appears to be negatively rather than positively associated with bystander constructs. Bystander intervention programs may want to move beyond the narrative of alcohol as a risk factor for sexual assault and discuss how alcohol impairs a bystanders' ability to recognize risk. More work is needed to ensure researchers assess alcohol consistently and with similar methods (number of drinks, subjective intoxication) to increase generalizability of findings to prevention programs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Chelsea Misquith
- Center for Alcohol Addiction Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University
| | - Ruschelle M Leone
- Department of Health Policy & Behavioral Science, Georgia State University
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Labhardt D, Brown S, Holdsworth E, McKillop N, Howat DJ, Jones C. UK and Australian University Students' Perceptions of the Nature of Sexual Assault and Intervening Behavior. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2024; 39:1952-1975. [PMID: 37961902 PMCID: PMC10993633 DOI: 10.1177/08862605231212171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Sexual assault is a global problem, with the risk highest among university students. Bystander intervention preventing sexual assaults has primarily been researched using quantitative methods to understand what factors influence it. However, both sexual assault and bystander intervention are complex with many subtle and overlapping issues that, when analyzed qualitatively, can offer new insights. The current study aimed to explore and develop a nuanced and comprehensive understanding of students' perceptions of sexual assault and bystander intervention across two universities, one in the United Kingdom and one in Australia. Thirty-nine university students (19 in the United Kingdom; 20 in Australia) took part in one-to-one semistructured interviews. Using inductive thematic analysis, two overarching themes were identified: (a) navigating the complex dynamics of sexual assault; and (b) decisions to intervene or not to intervene. Findings suggest that the complexity and ambiguity around sexual assault can forestall bystander intervention. As such, increasing education, awareness, and discussions around sexual assault and bystander intervention is vital to increase awareness of the problem and mobilize action from bystanders to prevent sexual assault.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah Brown
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Nadine McKillop
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Christian Jones
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
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Salazar LF, Parrott DJ, DiLillo D, Gervais S, Schipani-McLaughlin AM, Leone R, Swartout K, Simpson L, Moore R, Wilson T, Flowers N, Church H, Baildon A. Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of RealConsent2.0: a web-based intervention to promote prosocial alcohol-involved bystander behavior in young men. Trials 2023; 24:804. [PMID: 38087306 PMCID: PMC10717516 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-023-07797-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sexual violence (SV) is a significant, global public health problem, particularly among young adults. Promising interventions exist, including prosocial bystander intervention programs that train bystanders to intervene in situations at-risk for SV. However, these programs suffer from critical weaknesses: (1) they do not address the proximal effect of alcohol use on bystander decision-making and (2) they rely on self-report measures to evaluate outcomes. To overcome these limitations, we integrate new content specific to alcohol use within the context of prosocial bystander intervention into an existing, evidence-based program, RealConsent1.0. The resulting program, RealConsent2.0, aims to facilitate bystander behavior among sober and intoxicated bystanders and uses a virtual reality (VR) environment to assess bystander behavior in the context of acute alcohol use. METHODS This protocol paper presents the design of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in which we evaluate RealConsent2.0 for efficacy in increasing alcohol- and non-alcohol-involved bystander behavior compared to RealConsent1.0 or to an attention-control program ("Taking Charge"). The RCT is being implemented in Atlanta, GA, and Lincoln, NE. Participants will be 605, healthy men aged 21-25 years recruited through social media, community-based flyers, and university email lists. Eligible participants who provide informed consent and complete the baseline survey, which includes self-reported bystander behavior, are then randomized to one of six conditions: RealConsent2.0/alcohol, RealConsent2.0/placebo, RealConsent1.0/alcohol, RealConsent1.0/placebo, Taking Charge/alcohol, or Taking Charge/placebo. After completing their assigned program, participants complete a laboratory session in which they consume an alcohol (target BrAC: .08%) or placebo beverage and then engage in the Bystanders in Sexual Assault Virtual Environments (BSAVE), a virtual house party comprising situations in which participants have opportunities to intervene. Self-reported bystander behavior across alcohol and non-alcohol contexts is also assessed at 6- and 12-months post-intervention. Secondary outcomes include attitudes toward, outcome expectancies for, and self-efficacy for bystander behavior via self-report. DISCUSSION RealConsent2.0 is the first web-based intervention for young men that encourages and teaches skills to engage in prosocial bystander behavior to prevent SV while intoxicated. This is also the first study to assess the proximal effect of alcohol on bystander behavior via a VR environment. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04912492. Registered on 05 February 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura F Salazar
- School of Public Health, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 3995, Atlanta, GA, 30302-3995, USA.
| | - Dominic J Parrott
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 5010, Atlanta, GA, 30302-5010, USA
| | - David DiLillo
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0308, USA
| | - Sarah Gervais
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0308, USA
| | | | - Ruschelle Leone
- School of Public Health, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 3995, Atlanta, GA, 30302-3995, USA
| | - Kevin Swartout
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 5010, Atlanta, GA, 30302-5010, USA
| | - Lauren Simpson
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0308, USA
| | - Renita Moore
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 5010, Atlanta, GA, 30302-5010, USA
| | - Tiffany Wilson
- School of Public Health, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 3995, Atlanta, GA, 30302-3995, USA
| | - Nyla Flowers
- School of Public Health, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 3995, Atlanta, GA, 30302-3995, USA
| | - Haley Church
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0308, USA
| | - Amanda Baildon
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0308, USA
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López G, Bhuptani PH, Orchowski LM. Gender equitable attitudes as a significant mediator of bystander intentions among sexual minority adolescents. J Adolesc 2023; 95:1409-1419. [PMID: 37430443 PMCID: PMC10848272 DOI: 10.1002/jad.12214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Bystander intervention is a promising approach for prevention of sexual violence. Assessing factors that may promote or hinder bystander intervention among sexual minority adolescents (i.e., lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer) is essential, given high rates of violence among sexual minority youth. Prior research examining barriers and facilitators of bystander intervention intentions does not consider how factors may vary by sexual identity. As such, the current study aimed to (1) examine how barriers and facilitators of bystander intentions, bystander intentions, and bystander behavior vary between heterosexual and sexual minority high school adolescents and (2) explore mediators of the association between sexual identity and bystander intervention intentions. We proposed that students' level of school connectedness, gender equitable attitudes, and anticipated positive consequences of bystander intervention (e.g., having a moral desire to help) would promote bystander intervention intentions, whereas binge drinking, and students anticipated negative consequences of bystander intervention (e.g., fear for one's own safety) would tend to weaken bystander intervention intentions. METHODS Participants included 2,645 10th grade students (Mage = 15.37, SD = 0.61) recruited from high schools in the Northeast United States. RESULTS Sexual minority youth reported higher bystander intentions, bystander behavior, anticipated positive consequences of bystander intervention, gender equitable attitudes, and binge drinking relative to heterosexual youth. Sexual minority youth had lower school connectedness than heterosexual youth. Anticipated negative consequences of bystander intervention did not vary by group. Parallel linear regression analyses found that only anticipated positive consequences of bystander intervention and gender equitable attitudes fully mediated the relationships between sexual identity and bystander intentions. CONCLUSIONS Bystander intervention programs may benefit from attending to specific facilitators of bystander intervention among sexual minority youth, such as gender equitable attitudes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela López
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Prachi H. Bhuptani
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Lindsay M. Orchowski
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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Lyons M, Brewer G, Bogle I, Castro Caicedo J, Gaspar M, Ghayda C, Huelin M, Wei Liang T, Centifanti L. Barriers to Bystander Intervention in Sexual Harassment: The Dark Triad and Rape Myth acceptance in Indonesia, Singapore, and United Kingdom. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2022; 37:NP22151-NP22174. [PMID: 35166580 PMCID: PMC9679566 DOI: 10.1177/08862605211072150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Bystanders have an important role in preventing sexual violence, but they are often reluctant to intervene due to a range of barriers. In this study, we investigated relationships between the Dark Triad of personality (i.e. psychopathy, Machiavellianism and narcissism), rape myth acceptance and five bystander barriers. We addressed the paucity of research by collecting data from three countries (Indonesia, Singapore, and United Kingdom). In total, 716 University staff and students participated in an online survey. We found very few country-level differences in the correlations between the variables. In regression analyses, Machiavellianism and rape myth acceptance both had significant, positive relationships with failure to identify risk, failure to take responsibility, skills deficits and audience inhibition. Narcissism and psychopathy were significantly, negatively associated with audience inhibition and skills deficits. Findings indicate similarity in predictors of perceived barriers to bystander intervention across the three countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minna Lyons
- School of Psychology, Liverpool John
Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Gayle Brewer
- School of Psychology, University of
Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Iona Bogle
- School of Psychology, University of
Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Monic Gaspar
- School of Psychology, University of
Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Carissa Ghayda
- School of Psychology, University of
Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Maya Huelin
- School of Psychology, University of
Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Tan Wei Liang
- Department of Psychology, National
University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Luna Centifanti
- School of Psychology, University of
Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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