Bystander Intervention Programs for Preventing Sexual Violence

(MAP Trial)

Overseen By Sarah Gervais, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Nebraska Lincoln

Disqualifiers: Non-heavy drinkers, Non-English speakers, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

450 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial evaluates the effectiveness of different programs in encouraging intervention in situations where sexual violence might occur. It tests three approaches: one focuses on motivating bystanders (Motivate-the-Bystander), another includes guidance on reducing alcohol use (Motivate-the-Bystander+Alcohol), and the third is a stress-reduction program (Attention-only Control). Participants will engage in activities such as online surveys, virtual reality simulations, and daily diary follow-ups. Suitable candidates are heavy drinkers aged 18-25 who speak English and reside in Lancaster or nearby counties in Nebraska. As an unphased trial, this study allows participants to contribute to important research that could shape future interventions.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It focuses on bystander intervention and alcohol use, so it's best to ask the study team for guidance.

What prior data suggests that these intervention programs are safe?

Research has shown that programs like Motivate-the-Bystander, which encourage intervention to prevent sexual violence, are gaining popularity. Participants generally find these programs manageable because they teach helpful skills and boost motivation to act in risky situations. Although specific safety data for this program is unavailable, its non-medical nature typically indicates greater safety and ease for participants.

The Motivate-the-Bystander+Alcohol program aims to reduce drinking and encourage intervention in risky situations, considering alcohol's effects on both the helper and those involved. While specific safety data for this version is lacking, its focus on skills and behavior rather than medication suggests it is likely well-tolerated. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about these programs because they offer a fresh approach to preventing sexual violence by focusing on bystander intervention. Unlike traditional programs that might focus solely on victim support or perpetrator punishment, these interventions aim to empower individuals to take action when they witness potentially harmful situations. The "Motivate-the-Bystander" approach enhances knowledge, motivation, and skills via Zoom, making it accessible and interactive. The "Motivate-the-Bystander+Alcohol" program adds a component to address alcohol use, acknowledging its role in many incidents of violence and encouraging safer behaviors. These innovative, motivational interviewing techniques aim to cultivate proactive communities that can effectively reduce instances of sexual violence.

What evidence suggests that this trial's programs could be effective for increasing bystander behaviors and reducing alcohol use?

This trial will compare different bystander intervention programs for preventing sexual violence. Research has shown that programs teaching intervention skills can reduce the acceptance of sexual violence and encourage proactive behavior. Participants may receive the Motivate-the-Bystander program, which studies indicate improves knowledge and attitudes, though its impact on actual actions is mixed. Another group will receive the Motivate-the-Bystander+Alcohol program, which adds a focus on alcohol and effectively reduces drinking while increasing helpful actions in risky situations. A review of 44 studies found these programs positively influence attitudes and behaviors toward preventing sexual violence. Combining alcohol reduction with bystander motivation appears promising for those at high risk of encountering sexual violence situations. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Sarah J Gervais, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Nebraska Lincoln

David DiLillo, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Nebraska Lincoln

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals aged 18-25 who are heavy drinkers, fluent in English, and from Lancaster or nearby counties in Nebraska. Participants must be willing to follow study procedures and have signed a consent form.

Inclusion Criteria

English fluency

Heavy drinkers (as defined by using the AUDIT)

Community members from Lancaster and surrounding counties in Nebraska

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants complete either the Motivate-the-Bystander, Motivate-the-Bystander+Alcohol, or the attention control condition online

1 week

1 visit (virtual)

Virtual Reality Simulation

Participants complete the virtual reality simulation in the lab to assess bystander behaviors

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants complete electronic daily diary follow-up surveys about alcohol use and bystander intervention

9 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Attention-only Control
• Motivate-the-Bystander
• Motivate-the-Bystander+Alcohol

Trial Overview

The study compares three approaches: 'Motivate-the-Bystander' (MTB) protocol alone, MTB with an added focus on reducing alcohol use ('MTB+Alcohol'), and a control condition aimed at stress reduction. It evaluates the effectiveness of these methods in promoting intervention behaviors during sexual risk situations and reducing alcohol consumption.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Motivate-the-Bystander+Alcohol Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

A Zoom-based motivational interviewing prevention program that enhances knowledge, motivation, and skills for reduced alcohol use and increased bystander behaviors.

Group II: Motivate-the-Bystander Active Control 1 Intervention

A Zoom-based motivational interviewing prevention program that enhances knowledge, motivation, and skills for increased bystander behaviors.

Group III: Attention-only control Placebo Group 1 Intervention

A Zoom-based stress reduction program in which progressive muscle relaxation and other techniques are introduced and practiced.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Nebraska Lincoln

Lead Sponsor

Trials

40

Recruited

13,200+

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Collaborator

Trials

865

Recruited

1,091,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A survey of 188 undergraduate students revealed that most were not engaged in sexual assault prevention programs, despite believing that violence could be prevented.

Students identified several barriers to participating in bystander interventions, highlighting the need for targeted programs that enhance self-efficacy and address these obstacles.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Implications for sexual assault prevention: college students as prosocial bystanders. Exner, D., Cummings, N.[2012]

Bystander training programs for preventing sexual violence need to address the influence of alcohol use, as it can create barriers to effective intervention based on established theories like the decision-making model of bystander behavior and Alcohol Myopia Theory.

The commentary suggests that while alcohol can hinder bystander intervention, it may also facilitate it in certain contexts, highlighting the need for further research to understand this complex relationship and improve prevention strategies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Bystander Intervention to Prevent Sexual Violence: The Overlooked Role of Bystander Alcohol Intoxication. Leone, RM., Haikalis, M., Parrott, DJ., et al.[2022]

A systematic review of 44 studies on bystander intervention programs showed that these programs significantly improve attitudes and behaviors towards preventing sexual violence, with 32% of studies reporting positive changes in bystander behavior after training.

Effective training methods included presentations, discussions, and active learning exercises, with programs like 'Bringing in the Bystander' and 'The Men's Program' demonstrating strong empirical support for their effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Systematic Review of Bystander Interventions for the Prevention of Sexual Violence. Mujal, GN., Taylor, ME., Fry, JL., et al.[2021]

Bystander intervention programs are effective in improving community attitudes and behaviors towards sexual violence, leading to a greater willingness to intervene in potential situations of assault.

Future studies should focus on developing better measurement tools for assessing bystander actions, as this is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of prevention education programs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Measuring Bystander Behavior in the Context of Sexual Violence Prevention: Lessons Learned and New Directions. McMahon, S., Palmer, JE., Banyard, V., et al.[2019]

A review of 32 studies from 2015 to 2022 found that alcohol use generally hinders bystander decision-making in sexual assault situations, particularly in the early stages of recognizing risky situations.

Bystander intervention programs should focus on how alcohol impairs the ability to identify risks rather than just viewing it as a risk factor for sexual assault, highlighting the need for consistent research methods to improve the effectiveness of prevention strategies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Alcohol's Effects on the Bystander Decision-Making Model: A Systematic Literature Review. Marcantonio, TL., Haikalis, M., Misquith, C., et al.[2023]

The RealConsent2.0 program is designed to improve bystander intervention in sexual violence situations, specifically addressing the impact of alcohol on decision-making, and is being tested in a randomized controlled trial with 605 young men aged 21-25.

This study is unique as it uses a virtual reality environment to simulate real-life scenarios, allowing researchers to assess how intoxicated and sober bystanders respond to potential sexual violence situations, marking a significant advancement in intervention strategies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of RealConsent2.0: a web-based intervention to promote prosocial alcohol-involved bystander behavior in young men. Salazar, LF., Parrott, DJ., DiLillo, D., et al.[2023]

A study involving 10 U.S. Army male soldiers revealed that bystander intervention can be an effective strategy for preventing sexual violence, with soldiers identifying key themes such as recognizing risk and labeling situations as problematic.

The findings suggest that intervention programs should focus on teaching soldiers nonaggressive strategies, as soldiers often anticipated physical confrontations, which could lead to further misconduct.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Qualitative Analysis of Bystander Intervention Among Young Adult Male Soldiers Who Engage in At-Risk Drinking. Orchowski, LM., Oesterle, DW., Borsari, B., et al.[2023]

The SAFE program, designed for 25 heavy drinking college men, effectively combines personalized feedback and group workshops to educate participants about alcohol use, consent, and bystander intervention, showing promise in preventing sexual assault.

Preliminary assessments indicate that the SAFE program is feasible and acceptable, with positive feedback on its content and delivery, suggesting it could be a valuable intervention for reducing sexual aggression in high-risk drinking environments.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sexual Assault Prevention for Heavy Drinking College Men: Development and Feasibility of an Integrated Approach. Orchowski, LM., Barnett, NP., Berkowitz, A., et al.[2020]

Bystander education programs for sexual assault prevention in college communities showed moderate effectiveness, with 2,926 undergraduates trained reporting improved intentions to help others and greater bystander efficacy compared to untrained peers.

The training also led to significant reductions in rape-supportive attitudes and proclivity to commit rape, although it did not significantly affect actual perpetration rates, indicating a need for further research on long-term behavioral outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Bystander education training for campus sexual assault prevention: an initial meta-analysis. Katz, J., Moore, J.[2022]

In a study involving 327 young adults, increased intoxication levels in bystanders were linked to poorer recall and risk assessment of sexual assault situations, which could hinder effective intervention.

Despite intoxication affecting situation interpretation, it did not impact feelings of personal responsibility or confidence to intervene, suggesting that bystander intervention programs should include strategies to help intoxicated individuals recognize and respond to harmful situations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Alcohol Intoxication Impairs the Bystander Intervention Process in a Hypothetical Sexual Assault: A Field Investigation. Melkonian, AJ., Ham, LS., Wiersma-Mosley, JD., et al.[2022]

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