Evaluating the feasibility of an experimental paradigm for alcohol-involved sexual violence perpetration among active duty and Veteran men

Abstract: Background: Sexual assault is common in the military and heavy episodic drinking (HED) is a strong predictor of sexual violence perpetration. Objectives: The current study examined factors associated with engaging in alcohol-involved sexual violence perpetration (ASVP) in an experiment to extend ASVP research to military populations and against men. Method: We recruited 9 dyads (N = 18 men; active duty n = 12, veteran n = 6) over the age of 21 who reported HED together at least twice in the past month. Procedures were completed via video teleconference. Dyads completed a survey followed by a validated experiment assessing ASVP. Each participant had the opportunity to show either a sexual or neutral clip to an ostensibly intoxicated confederate in the military (gender randomly assigned at dyadic level) who reported a strong dislike of sexual content. Participants discussed their choices prior to making their decision. Discussions were transcribed and coded for verbalizations that supported (‘go cues’) or discouraged (‘stop cues’) their peer from engaging in ASVP during the experiment. Results: Results found that individuals with a perpetration history were less likely to engage in verbalizations of discouragement of peer ASVP (ß = −.563, p = .030), while participants were more likely to engage in verbalizations of discouragement of peer ASVP when the ostensibly intoxicated victim was a man (ß = .671, p = .025). Conclusions: This study laid the groundwork as a first step in understanding ASVP behaviour in a lab setting with military populations. Future research using fully powered samples can examine the role of peer influences on ASVP to harness for military sexual assault prevention.

Read the full article
Report a problem with this article

Related articles

  • More for Researchers

    Outcomes from a posttraumatic growth-oriented program among Veterans: A quasi-experimental retrospective study

    Abstract: Objective: The present study is a retrospective quasi-experimental study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Warrior PATHH (WP) program at improving posttraumatic growth (PTG) outcomes and reducing PTSD symptoms compared to a waitlist control among a sample of Veterans. Method: Participants (n = 164) were U.S. military Veterans with a history of trauma. Participants were either undergoing the Warrior PATHH program or a waitlist. Primary outcome measures were administered at baseline and at 90-day follow-up and consisted of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory – Expanded (PTGI-X) and the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Secondary outcome measures assessed psychosocial functioning and included measures of depression and anxiety symptoms, sleep, wellbeing, and social support. Results: Significant differences were observed between groups on the PTGI-X (F(1, 205) = 23.667, p < .001, partial η2 = 0.103), and the PCL-5 (F(1, 205) = 262.460, p < .001, partial η2 = 0.561) with the WP group showing significant positive psychological change following a traumatic event as measured by the PTGI-X and decreased PTSD symptoms as measured by the PCL-5 compared to those in the waitlist condition. Those in the treatment arm also demonstrated gains to psychosocial functioning. Conclusions: Consistent with previous research, participants in the Warrior PATHH program exhibited significant increases in PTG outcomes, decreased PTSD symptoms, and broad improvements to psychosocial functioning. These findings suggest it is an effective training program to foster PTG outcomes among Veterans. This study is unique as it is the first to compare the effects of WP programming with a sample of waitlisted Veterans.