Integrated Alcohol and Sexual Assault Prevention for Bisexual Women
Project Number5R34AA030035-03
Contact PI/Project LeaderORCHOWSKI, LINDSAY MARIE
Awardee OrganizationRHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL
Description
Abstract Text
PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Alcohol misuse, sexual assault, and psychological distress (anxiety, depression) are significant
interconnected problems among bisexual women. Heavy drinking is a primary risk factor for sexual victimization
and increases risk for revictimization. Bisexual women report higher rates of heavy episodic drinking compared
to heterosexual women, as well as higher rates of sexual assault compared to heterosexual or lesbian women.
Bisexual women also report higher levels of minority stress, lower levels of connection to the LGBTQ+
community, and greater psychological distress (anxiety, depression) compared to lesbian women. Taken
together, there is a strong need to target alcohol use, sexual assault, and psychological distress among bisexual
women. Problematically, existing integrated alcohol and sexual assault interventions do not consider the unique
stressors (minority stress, disconnection from the LGBTQ+ community) faced by bisexual women. Bisexual
women also report less benefit from existing prevention approaches interventions. An integrated alcohol and
sexual assault prevention program specifically tailored to bisexual women is therefore warranted. The proposed
research will develop an intervention targeted toward bisexual college women between the ages of 18 – 30 with
a history of sexual victimization who report heavy episodic drinking, a particularly high-risk group. The
intervention will integrate (a) evidence-based motivational interviewing with personalized feedback to address
risky alcohol use, (b) mindfulness skills training to reduce psychological distress, and (c) sexual assault risk
reduction and resistance education as well as bystander intervention skills training with the goal of decreasing
revictimization. Following a Stage 1A and 1B treatment development model, in Stage 1A information from
informant interviews (N = 10), three focus groups (N = 30), stakeholder interviews (N = 6), and a campus advisory
board will guide the development of the integrated intervention. The integrated intervention will be tested in an
open trial (N = 20) in which interview and self-report methods will be utilized to gather information regarding the
feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. The intervention will be revised and then evaluated in a Stage 1B
randomized pilot trial involving 90 women assigned to the proposed intervention or a wait list control group.
Women will be followed at 2- and 4- months post-baseline. In the Revision Phase, we will conduct exit interviews
and revise the intervention to prepare for a larger clinical trial. Results of this research are expected to inform
the development of interventions that not only target the intersection of alcohol use and sexual assault among
bisexual college women, but also promote the overall wellbeing of bisexual women. This integrated approach
represents a shift in how these public health problems are typically addressed and has the potential for significant
impact across several cross-cutting outcomes.
Public Health Relevance Statement
PROJECT NARRATIVE
Public Health Relevance
Heavy drinking, sexual assault, and psychological distress are significant, co-occurring problems for young
adult bisexual women. Psychological distress is a common aftereffect of trauma and intersects with minority
stress and drinking to cope with psychological distress can increase risk for sexual revictimization. This study
will involve developing and piloting an integrated intervention that designed to reduce alcohol use, sexual
revictimization, and psychological distress among a particularly high-risk group – young adult bisexual women
with a history of sexual victimization and who report heavy episodic drinking.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
CFDA Code
273
DUNS Number
075710996
UEI
N876TLXYGCG4
Project Start Date
10-September-2022
Project End Date
21-March-2025
Budget Start Date
01-September-2024
Budget End Date
21-March-2025
Project Funding Information for 2024
Total Funding
$275,273
Direct Costs
$220,769
Indirect Costs
$54,504
Year
Funding IC
FY Total Cost by IC
2024
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
$275,273
Year
Funding IC
FY Total Cost by IC
Sub Projects
No Sub Projects information available for 5R34AA030035-03
Publications
Publications are associated with projects, but cannot be identified with any particular year of the project or fiscal year of funding. This is due to the continuous and cumulative nature of knowledge generation across the life of a project and the sometimes long and variable publishing timeline. Similarly, for multi-component projects, publications are associated with the parent core project and not with individual sub-projects.
No Publications available for 5R34AA030035-03
Patents
No Patents information available for 5R34AA030035-03
Outcomes
The Project Outcomes shown here are displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Institutes of Health. NIH has not endorsed the content below.
No Outcomes available for 5R34AA030035-03
Clinical Studies
No Clinical Studies information available for 5R34AA030035-03
News and More
Related News Releases
No news release information available for 5R34AA030035-03
History
No Historical information available for 5R34AA030035-03
Similar Projects
No Similar Projects information available for 5R34AA030035-03