Just-In-Time Text Message Intervention for Intimate Partner Violence

Overseen By Cynthia Stappenbeck, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Georgia State University

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

400 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Acute alcohol intoxication is a robust predictor of intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration for young adult men and women; therefore, interventions delivered proximally to drinking episodes - a period of high risk - are needed to reduce alcohol-facilitated IPV. This project seeks to improve public health by delivering a just-in-time text messaging intervention proximally to drinking episodes and evaluating the impact of the intervention on alcohol-facilitated IPV in a sample of at-risk young adult men and women. Additionally, through an innovative design this project is poised to answer these important questions: whether receiving a message, when, for whom, what type, and under what conditions this just-in-time messaging intervention leads to reductions in alcohol use and IPV perpetration.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Alcohol Skills and Emotion Regulation Intervention for intimate partner violence?

Research shows that difficulties in regulating emotions are linked to alcohol misuse among women experiencing intimate partner violence, suggesting that improving emotion regulation could help reduce alcohol-related issues. Additionally, interventions that focus on relationship satisfaction and community safety have been shown to weaken the link between alcohol use and intimate partner violence, indicating that addressing these areas may be beneficial. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How is the Alcohol Skills and Emotion Regulation Intervention treatment different from other treatments for intimate partner violence?

This treatment is unique because it combines skills for managing alcohol use with techniques for regulating emotions, delivered through just-in-time text messages, which is a novel approach compared to traditional in-person therapies or informational websites. ^{2 5 6 7 8}

Research Team

Cynthia Stappenbeck, PhD

Principal Investigator

Georgia State University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for young adults aged 18-30 who are currently in a romantic relationship, have a history of intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration within the last three months, and frequently consume alcohol. Participants must be willing to receive text messages for 30 days and have had at least two heavy drinking episodes in the past month.

Inclusion Criteria

I have drunk alcohol twice a week for the last 3 months.

You have physically or emotionally harmed someone in the past 3 months.

Willing to provide cell phone number and carrier and receive text messages for 30 days

Exclusion Criteria

Not applicable.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive just-in-time text messaging intervention to reduce alcohol-facilitated IPV

6 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in alcohol use and IPV perpetration

6 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Alcohol Skills and Emotion Regulation Intervention
• Attention Control

Trial Overview The study tests a just-in-time text messaging intervention aimed at reducing IPV when participants are likely to drink alcohol. It will assess if receiving specific types of messages before drinking can help lower both alcohol use and IPV incidents among men and women at risk.

Participant Groups

Group I: Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in this arm will receive the RELATE intervention.

Group II: Attention Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants in this arm will receive supportive control messages.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Georgia State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

71

Recruited

33,600+

Findings from Research

The psycho-behavioral intervention significantly reduced the recurrence of intimate partner violence among pregnant African-American women, with an odds ratio of 0.48, indicating nearly half the likelihood of experiencing further violence compared to those receiving usual care.

Women in the intervention group also had better birth outcomes, with a lower rate of very preterm births (1.5% vs. 6.6% in usual care) and a higher average gestational age (38.2 weeks vs. 36.9 weeks), suggesting that the intervention positively impacted both maternal safety and infant health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An integrated intervention to reduce intimate partner violence in pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial. Kiely, M., El-Mohandes, AAE., El-Khorazaty, MN., et al.[2022]

In a study involving 422 women experiencing intimate partner violence, the online interactive tool I-DECIDE did not significantly improve self-efficacy or reduce depressive symptoms compared to a standard information website over 12 months.

Despite the lack of measurable differences in outcomes, qualitative feedback suggested that participants found the I-DECIDE tool supportive and motivating, indicating potential value in further developing online interventions for this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An online healthy relationship tool and safety decision aid for women experiencing intimate partner violence (I-DECIDE): a randomised controlled trial. Hegarty, K., Tarzia, L., Valpied, J., et al.[2020]

Among 178 men in treatment for alcohol use disorders, 42% reported perpetrating intimate partner violence (IPV) at the start of the study, with a recurrence rate of 43% at 6 months and 36% at 12 months.

Key risk factors for IPV included baseline alcohol problem severity, antisocial personality traits, and relationship adjustment, highlighting the need for targeted prevention strategies in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Longitudinal risk factors for intimate partner violence among men in treatment for alcohol use disorders. Taft, CT., O'Farrell, TJ., Doron-LaMarca, S., et al.[2015]

The study involved 197 women who experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) and found that difficulties in regulating positive emotions were linked to alcohol and drug misuse, particularly among Latina and White women, but not African American women.

Race/ethnicity played a significant role in how difficulties regulating positive emotions affected drug misuse, with a stronger association observed in White IPV-victimized women, suggesting the need for culturally sensitive interventions tailored to different racial and ethnic groups.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Racial/Ethnic Differences in Alcohol and Drug Misuse Among IPV-Victimized Women: Exploring the Role of Difficulties Regulating Positive Emotions. Weiss, NH., Schick, MR., Contractor, AA., et al.[2022]

In a study of active duty service members, factors such as relationship satisfaction, community safety, and developmental aspects like years in the military were found to weaken the link between hazardous alcohol use and intimate partner violence (IPV).

The findings suggest that improving relationship functioning and community safety can help mitigate the risk of IPV associated with hazardous alcohol use, highlighting the importance of a developmental and relational perspective rather than just focusing on individual behaviors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Hazardous alcohol use and intimate partner violence in the military: understanding protective factors. Foran, HM., Heyman, RE., Smith Slep, AM., et al.[2012]

The study found that the prevalence of intimate partner violence was 10.7% among men and 14.6% among women, indicating that women experience higher rates of violence.

Alcohol consumption was significantly associated with episodes of violence, with 38.1% of violent incidents involving intoxicated men, suggesting that reducing alcohol consumption could be an effective strategy for preventing intimate partner violence.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Intimate partner violence and alcohol consumption. Zaleski, M., Pinsky, I., Laranjeira, R., et al.[2022]

In a longitudinal survey of 1635 couples, younger men, those without a high school diploma, unemployed men, and drinkers were more likely to not respond to follow-up interviews, indicating specific demographic factors that may affect survey participation.

For women, those aged 40-49 were twice as likely to be non-respondents compared to older women, while those with a history of childhood abuse were less likely to be non-respondents, suggesting complex relationships between personal history and survey engagement.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Characteristics of non-respondents in a US national longitudinal survey on drinking and intimate partner violence. Caetano, R., Ramisetty-Mikler, S., McGrath, C.[2022]

A study involving 239 patients in an urban emergency department found that a brief simulation video about intimate partner violence (IPV) significantly improved knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) scores by 22% compared to an 8% improvement in the control group.

The intervention was effective in a busy emergency department setting, suggesting that brief educational simulations can enhance understanding of IPV perpetration among patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Brief intervention for perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV): simulation versus instruction alone. Ernst, AA., Weiss, SJ., Hobley, K., et al.[2015]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An integrated intervention to reduce intimate partner violence in pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial. [2022]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An online healthy relationship tool and safety decision aid for women experiencing intimate partner violence (I-DECIDE): a randomised controlled trial. [2020]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Longitudinal risk factors for intimate partner violence among men in treatment for alcohol use disorders. [2015]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Racial/Ethnic Differences in Alcohol and Drug Misuse Among IPV-Victimized Women: Exploring the Role of Difficulties Regulating Positive Emotions. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Hazardous alcohol use and intimate partner violence in the military: understanding protective factors. [2012]

6. Brazil pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Intimate partner violence and alcohol consumption. [2022]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Characteristics of non-respondents in a US national longitudinal survey on drinking and intimate partner violence. [2022]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Brief intervention for perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV): simulation versus instruction alone. [2015]