Sexual Assault & Harassment Prevention Program for Military Personnel

Overseen By Laura Thormaehlen

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Disqualifiers: Non-Air Force, Rank not E1-E4

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 6

1200 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

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

Is the Sexual Assault & Harassment Prevention Program for Military Personnel safe for participants?

The available research does not provide specific safety data for the Sexual Assault & Harassment Prevention Program for Military Personnel, but it does mention that the Getting To Outcomes (GTO) approach, used in similar contexts, has been implemented without reported safety concerns. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How is the Sexual Assault & Harassment Prevention Program for Military Personnel treatment different from other treatments?

This program is unique because it combines multiple components, including a focus on junior enlisted personnel, leadership involvement, and a social marketing campaign, to address sexual assault and harassment in the military. Unlike other treatments, it emphasizes a comprehensive approach that involves different levels of military personnel and uses social marketing to change attitudes and behaviors. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of Code of Respect (X-CoRe) multi-level sexual assault (SA) and harassment (SH) prevention program in improving psychosocial determinants (e.g., knowledge, skills, self-efficacy, attitudes) related to respectful/disrespectful relationships, to examine the efficacy of X-CoRe in reducing SA and sexual harassment SH victimization and to examine the efficacy of X-CoRe increasing bystander behavior and improving unit cohesion and mission readiness by decreasing secondary risk and harmful behaviors (e.g., alcohol misuse, intimate partner violence, suicide ideation). The study will be conducted at at Joint Base McGuire Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL) located in Burlington County, New Jersey, and participants will be cluster-randomized at the level of the squadron to one of two conditions: the X-CoRe program or a control condition.

Research Team

Belinda Hernandez, PhD, MPH

Principal Investigator

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for active duty airmen ranked E1-E4 stationed at JBMDL, New Jersey. Participants must speak English and have access to an internet-capable device. It's not open to those in other service branches or ranks outside of E1-E4.

Inclusion Criteria

You are a current active duty member stationed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

You have a device that can connect to the internet.

English speaking

Exclusion Criteria

Airmen not ranked E1-E4 at JBMDL

Being in service branches other than Air Force (e.g., Army or Navy)

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive the Code of Respect (X-CoRe) multi-level sexual assault and harassment prevention program or a control condition

6 months

Baseline assessment and program implementation

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in psychosocial determinants, bystander behavior, and unit cohesion

12 months

6 months follow-up, 12 months follow-up

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Junior Enlisted Component
• Leadership Component
• Social Marketing Campaign

Trial Overview The 'Code of Respect (X-CoRe)' program aims to prevent sexual assault and harassment among airmen by improving attitudes towards respectful relationships, reducing victimization, promoting bystander intervention, enhancing unit cohesion, and mission readiness.

Participant Groups

Group I: Control Condition Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Group II: Code of Respect (X-CoRe) Multi-Level Sexual Assault (SA) and Harassment (SH) Prevention Program Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Lead Sponsor

Trials

974

Recruited

361,000+

United States Department of Defense

Collaborator

Trials

940

Recruited

339,000+

Findings from Research

In a study of 1,337 Army and Air Force servicewomen, 13% reported experiencing sexual assault in nondeployed locations, highlighting a significant issue within the military.

Negative leader behaviors, such as allowing sexually demeaning comments, were found to more than double the odds of sexual assault, indicating that military leaders play a crucial role in either increasing or reducing the risk of such incidents.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Relationship Between US Military Officer Leadership Behaviors and Risk of Sexual Assault of Reserve, National Guard, and Active Component Servicewomen in Nondeployed Locations. Sadler, AG., Mengeling, MA., Booth, BM., et al.[2020]

The small-group preventive intervention significantly reduced unwanted sexual contact among incoming cadets at the US Air Force Academy by nearly 50% compared to the control group.

This study is notable as one of the first rigorously designed trials to show a substantial impact on reducing unwanted sexual contact in a military academy setting.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Prevention of Unwanted Sexual Contact Among Cadets at the United States Air Force Academy: A Brief Small-Group Intervention. Griffin, KW., Williams, C., Travis, W., et al.[2023]

A study involving 52 active duty Airmen revealed that high-risk situations for sexual assault included excessive alcohol use, specific physical settings, and work-related circumstances, highlighting the need for targeted prevention strategies.

Gender differences were noted, with female Airmen identifying unique high-risk factors such as power imbalances, isolation, and environments dominated by men, suggesting that sexual assault risk reduction training should be tailored to address these specific vulnerabilities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Perceptions of High-Risk Situations for Sexual Assault: Gender Differences in the U.S. Air Force. Silber Ashley, O., Lane, ME., Morgan, JK., et al.[2019]

The Getting To Outcomes® (GTO®) pilot program, implemented at 10 military installations from 2019 to 2022, successfully improved understanding and capacity for sexual assault and harassment prevention, with most sites completing all GTO steps at least once.

Despite challenges such as complexity, personnel turnover, and disruptions from COVID-19, participants reported increased confidence in their prevention programs and expressed a desire to continue using parts of GTO, highlighting the need for ongoing leadership support and engagement for effective implementation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improving Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Prevention from the Bottom-up: a Pilot of Getting To Outcomes in the US Military. Chinman, M., Acosta, J., Bush-Mecenas, S., et al.[2023]

The study analyzed data from 821,807 male U.S. Army soldiers between 2004-2009 to identify high-risk individuals for sexual assault perpetration, finding that a small percentage (top 5%) of soldiers accounted for a significant proportion of assaults.

Key predictors of risk included prior criminal behavior and mental health issues, suggesting that targeted interventions could be developed using administrative data to effectively prevent sexual assaults among high-risk personnel.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Predicting Sexual Assault Perpetration in the U.S. Army Using Administrative Data. Rosellini, AJ., Monahan, J., Street, AE., et al.[2018]

Approximately 60% of cadets and midshipmen at U.S. Military Academies reported experiencing some form of sexual victimization, with 86% of female and 42% of male respondents affected, highlighting a significant issue within military training environments.

Victims of sexual victimization, especially those experiencing multiple types (polyvictimization), had notably more negative perceptions of their leadership's morality and intolerance for sexual victimization, indicating a potential impact on morale and trust in military leadership.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Unsafe in the camouflage tower: sexual victimization and perceptions of military academy leadership. Snyder, JA., Fisher, BS., Scherer, HL., et al.[2012]

References

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

The Relationship Between US Military Officer Leadership Behaviors and Risk of Sexual Assault of Reserve, National Guard, and Active Component Servicewomen in Nondeployed Locations. [2020]

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

Prevention of Unwanted Sexual Contact Among Cadets at the United States Air Force Academy: A Brief Small-Group Intervention. [2023]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Perceptions of High-Risk Situations for Sexual Assault: Gender Differences in the U.S. Air Force. [2019]

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

Improving Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Prevention from the Bottom-up: a Pilot of Getting To Outcomes in the US Military. [2023]

5. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Predicting Sexual Assault Perpetration in the U.S. Army Using Administrative Data. [2018]

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

Unsafe in the camouflage tower: sexual victimization and perceptions of military academy leadership. [2012]