Sexual Violence

This Phase 2 trial will to examine the efficacy of a brief dyad-based motivational interview (PAIRS MI) delivered to friend dyads with an active treatment-as-usual condition, and a 1-year follow-up.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if the CONNECT program helps women with a history of sex trafficking get connected to substance use, HIV/STI, and mental health services. It will also learn whether the program is practical to deliver and acceptable to participants. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does CONNECT increase participants' engagement in substance use treatment (such as starting medication for opioid use disorder or therapy for alcohol use), HIV and STI prevention and treatment services (such as starting PrEP or getting tested for STIs), and mental health treatment (such as treatment for PTSD)? Is CONNECT feasible and acceptable for women with a history of sex trafficking? Researchers will compare CONNECT to usual care to see if CONNECT increases engagement in these health services. The program will be delivered in partnership with a Street Medicine team that provides care directly to unhoused women, with support from a trained care navigator. Participants will: Complete the CONNECT program or receive usual care Work 1:1 with a care navigator who helps with referrals to substance use, HIV/STI, and mental health services (CONNECT group) Complete assessments at the start of the study and at a 2-month follow-up Answer questions about their substance use, health behaviors, mental health, and use of health services

This Phase 2 trial will to examine the efficacy of a brief dyad-based motivational interview (PAIRS MI) delivered to friend dyads with an active treatment-as-usual condition, and a 1-year follow-up.

Centering gender Affirming Resources in higher Education (CARE) project is nested within the parent study "Reducing Alcohol Involved Sexual violence in higher Education" (RAISE; R01 AA023260; NCT05185440). CARE is a pilot cluster-randomized trial that centers trans and gender diverse (TGD) students who are at elevated risk for SV and hazardous drinking. CARE tests a novel college health and counseling center (CHC) training program designed to improve provider knowledge about TGD individuals, increase their self-efficacy and use of trans-inclusive practices. This includes an evaluation of the feasibility, acceptability, appropriateness, and usability of CARE's training intervention for college health and counseling center providers. This research will produce the first rigorously evaluated TGD-focused CHC provider training which has the potential to increase the accessibility of CHC's for TGD university students- ultimately lowering rates of alcohol use and SV among this disproportionately impacted population.

This cluster-randomized controlled trial across 28+ college campuses focuses on undergraduate college students at elevated risk for sexual violence and hazardous drinking (i.e., students with prior history of sexual violence, students who are sexual or gender minority, and students with disabilities). "Reducing Alcohol Involved Sexual violence in higher Education (RAISE)" is a longitudinal study that will test research-informed strategies to improve implementation of a prevention intervention in college health and counseling centers, integrate a safety decision aid (via computer or mobile device) to more directly target harm reduction among students particularly vulnerable to hazardous drinking and SV, and evaluate campus policies that increase accessibility and uptake of confidential services for students. This is the first study to situate a sexual violence prevention intervention in college health and counseling centers to address two significant public health concerns -- alcohol-involved sexual violence and hazardous drinking on college campuses.

The goal of this study is to evaluate the active bystander training provided by Safe Bars, Inc. and their local chapter organizations to staff at alcohol-serving establishments (e.g., bars). The training aims to improve norms about violence, create safer environments by teaching staff to intervene in potentially harmful situations, and help prevent sexual violence in the venue community. The study will examine the implementation and effectiveness of the training. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Do staff and patrons at venues that have received Safe Bars training experience lower rates of sexual violence at the venue than staff and patrons at venues that have not received the training? 2. Are staff at venues that have received Safe Bars training more likely to intervene in potentially risky situations than staff at venues that have not received the training? 3. What characteristics of venue environments and staff and patron beliefs and perceptions are responsible for effects of the training on sexual violence and bystander behavior outcomes? 4. What characteristics and conditions are necessary for effective Safe Bars implementation and improved staff and patron outcomes? Researchers will compare staff and patron experiences at venues that have received the training with venues that are offered a delayed training. Staff and patron participants will be asked to complete surveys over about 12 months, research staff will conduct observations of training and observations in the venues, and selected venue managers and staff will be asked to complete individual interviews.

The goal of this clinical trial is to test if a modified peer-based motivational intervention (the Military PAIRS; MPAIRS) is reasonable and practical for military contexts. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does it works to reduce SV? * Does it works to reduce risky drinking? To test this, participants will answer questions about their SV history and risky drinking. Then they will be given MPAIRS. After 1 month, they will be asked about their SV history and risky drinking again.

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the impact of providing participants with 1. A recently developed protocol for motivating bystanders to intervene to help others who are in sexual risk situations (Motivate-the-Bystander) alone 2. Motivate-the-Bystander with an alcohol component focused on reducing drinking behaviors (Motivate-the-Bystander+Alcohol) 3. A control condition focused on reducing stress The main questions it aims to answer are: * Is Motivate-the-Bystander more effective than the attention control for increasing bystander behaviors? * Is Motivate-the-Bystander+Alcohol more effective than MTB alone for increasing bystander behaviors? * Is Motivate-the-Bystander+Alcohol more effective than Motivate-the-Bystander alone for decreasing alcohol use during bystander intervention opportunities? Participants will: * Complete online measures (e.g., self-reported bystander behaviors, past bystander training, history of bystander intervention attempts, sexual experiences, drinking behaviors, and other substance use behaviors) * Complete either MTB, MTB+ALC, or the attention control condition online * Complete the virtual reality simulation in the lab * Complete electronic daily diary follow-up surveys about alcohol use and bystander intervention

Women seeking asylum (WSA) are overexposed to sexual violence (SV) in their countries of origin, along migration routes, and within host countries. This overexposure does not cease upon arrival in host countries; on the contrary, the first months following arrival are characterised by heightened vulnerability, with an increased incidence of sexual violence, particularly among women with a prior history of victimisation. Sexual violence has major consequences on physical health, mental health, quality of life, and healthcare utilisation, and generates substantial individual and societal costs. International organisations, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, have identified the prevention of sexual violence and the improvement of care for survivors as public health priorities. Previous work suggests that addressing sexual violence within primary care, when embedded in a comprehensive, culturally informed, and coordinated approach integrating medical, psychological, social, and medico-legal dimensions, may contribute to preventing the occurrence or recurrence of sexual violence in host countries. However, no comparative study has yet evaluated the effectiveness of such a coordinated model of care on the prevention of sexual violence among women seeking asylum, nor assessed its efficiency or transferability. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a coordinated, transcultural, multidisciplinary outpatient care model on the prevention of sexual violence occurring in host European countries among women seeking asylum.

Evaluation of the impact of a psycho-education program for victims of sexual violence, to determine the most efficient model to patients.

The goal of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of Safe Night Out, a community-level primary violence prevention program offered in drinking establishments in the Sacramento region of California. The main questions this project aims to answer are: 1) Does the Safe Night Out program reduce incidents of sexual violence and intimate partner violence among patrons? 2) Does the Safe Night Out program increase incidents of safety checks of patrons by staff participants? To address these questions, we will enroll 150 staff participants and 500 patron participants from 25 drinking establishments that have implemented the Safe Night Out program (\~3 staff participants and 10 patron participants per drinking establishment) and 25 drinking establishments that have not implemented the Safe Night Out program (\~3 staff participants and 10 patron participants per drinking establishment). Participants will complete a baseline and three 6-month follow-up assessments, until 18 month-follow-up.

The overall goal of the five-year project is to conduct both a process and rigorous outcome evaluation of The Set Me Free Project (SMFP)'s READY to Stand (RTS)© curriculum with an eye toward widespread dissemination to other U.S. communities, if deemed effective. Broadly, the investigators seek to determine the effect participation has on students: reductions in commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) perpetration (the primary outcome); reductions in CSEC victimization, teen dating violence (TDV), and sexual violence victimization and perpetration; as well as increases in bystander intervention in CSEC situations compared to participants in the control condition (secondary outcomes).

Exposure to sexual violence disproportionally impacts women Veterans and can have profound negative impacts on daily functioning. Current treatments for sexual violence focus on psychiatric symptoms and ignore frequently co-occurring physical and psychosocial concerns. Exercise can improve trauma-related physical, mental, and psychosocial health conditions and may help women who have experienced sexual violence. Yet, women Veterans experience many barriers to participating in exercise and prefer interventions that are tailored to their preferences. This proposal will develop and test an exercise intervention tailored specifically to women Veterans who have experienced sexual violence. Treatment development will be informed by women Veterans with histories of sexual violence and their providers. Feasibility and acceptability will be tested, and outcomes will be explored to inform future research. This intervention is urgently needed to address gaps in integrative care and persistent trauma-related health concerns among women Veterans with histories of sexual violence.

In 2024, the police and gendarmerie recorded 12,260 victims of sexual violence, an increase of 7% compared with 2023. In 2019, 36,000 cases of sexual violence (rape or sexual assault) were handled by the public prosecutor's office. In 53.3% of cases, sexual violence was committed against minors. In 95% of cases, the perpetrators were male. The word is getting out about sexual violence, bringing the subject of consent to the forefront of media and scientific news. Even if the word is common, its definition is subtle, its understanding complex and many factors can influence its perception, including sex education, psychosocial skills and adherence to gender stereotypes. Research has shown that most people define sexual consent in the context of an oral conversation. However, studies show us that this is not what is done in practice: sexual consent or refusal is most often non-verbal and indirect. No studies have been carried out on consent in a population of perpetrators of sexual violence against minors. It is know that perpetrators of sexual violences exhibit alexythmias and cognitive distortions in the area of sexuality. The issue of consent is crucial, since perpetrators of sexual violences may believe that prepubescent children are capable of consenting to a sexual act. The aim of this study is to obtain a better analysis of the mechanisms, situations, facilitating factors, representations, sensitive perceptions and attitudes that lead perpetrators of sexual violences of minors to experiment with consent in their relationships. A better assessment of their understanding of consent and the factors that may have influenced it could have an impact on primary, secondary and tertiary prevention, as well as on treatment, and avoid potential new acts.

This research project will develop, deliver, and assess the efficacy of a new sexual violence (SV) prevention program for college students. The MOON program (Moving ON against sexual violence) aims to prevent sexual violence amongst university students, who are known to be an at-risk population for this form of violence. The MOON program follows a bystander approach, aiming to teach and capacitate young adults to be active agents of prevention within their communities. To do so, the program combines education on several SV-related topics with skills-training activities. Throughout five online sessions, the participants will be educated on topics such as sexual violence and consent, gender stereotypes, SV myths and bystander attitudes and behaviors. The main goal is to promote discussion forums, increase the participants knowledge on these topics and deconstruct pre-conceived beliefs/ideas that promote societal tolerance and acceptance of SV The program follows a bystander approach to support young adults in the development of bystander attitudes and behaviors that will help them act in situations of risk of SV. To achieve this goal, the program sessions will also have a major focus on building bystander prevention skills through online practical exercises (e.g., training scenarios). Finally, the program also focuses on promoting empathy towards others, specifically in the context of sexual violence prevention. This focus aims to deconstruct victim blaming narratives and to build victim-support skills, to enhance the students' sense of responsibility and their proclivity to act and help others in need. Being empathic towards others is perceived as a crucial component in the bystander decision-making to intervene. This clinical trial will apply the MOON program with university students nationwide in the Portuguese context and compare the participants who will take part in the program (experimental group) with other students who will not (control group). Thus, the RCT will be conducted with the following goals: 1. To assess the treatment's efficacy, by evaluating the program's ability to significantly reduce gender stereotypes, sexism, and rape myths; and to significantly increase active bystander attitudes and behaviors and empathy towards other people. 2. To examine the extent to which any changes are maintained three, six and nine months after the program's completion. 3. To assess mechanisms of change, i.e., to test whether changes in cognitive outcomes, namely in rape myth endorsement, are associated with changes over time in behavioral outcomes, as bystander attitudes/behaviors. 4. To investigate the role of age and gender as moderators of change over time in SV perpetration, gender stereotypes, sexism, rape myths, bystander attitudes and behaviors and empathy.