Prior Sexual Aggression as a Moderator of an Integrated Alcohol and Sexual Assault Prevention Program for Heavy-Drinking College Men: A Brief Report.

OBJECTIVE

Sexual aggression and heavy drinking are interrelated concerns among college men. As a result, integrated prevention interventions now exist to address co-occurring risks for sexual aggression and heavy drinking. The Sexual Assault and Alcohol Feedback and Education (SAFE) program is a multi-session integrated alcohol and sexual assault prevention program for college men that addresses alcohol use, sexual activity, social norms, alcohol-related sexual consequences, understanding of consent, and engagement in bystander intervention. Given that prior sexual aggression is a risk factor for subsequent perpetration of sexual aggression, the present study examined whether the effect of SAFE on a range of outcomes (rape myth acceptance, hypergender ideology, labeling of consent, and bystander intervention intentions) depended on men's baseline history of perpetration.

METHOD: Participants in the study were heavy-drinking college men (N = 115) randomly assigned to SAFE or a mindfulness-based control condition, who completed follow-ups at 2 and 6 months. Data were analyzed using multilevel modeling.

RESULTS

Degree of prior sexual aggression significantly moderated effects of SAFE on change in intentions to intervene, as well as rape myth acceptance, between baseline and 6 months. As baseline perpetration decreased, those receiving SAFE significantly increased bystander intervention intentions more than the control group. As baseline perpetration increased, those receiving SAFE significantly increased rape myth acceptance more than the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings emphasize the importance of continued examination of who benefits from integrated alcohol and sexual assault prevention programs.