Efficacy of a Web-based Sexual Violence Risk Reduction Program for Female College Students

RealConsent: A Web-based Program to Reduce College Women's Risk of Sexual Violence by Targeting Alcohol Use, Communication and Consent, and Building Supportive Networks

This study evaluates the efficacy of a web-based program for female college freshmen ("RealConsent") in reducing their risk of sexual violence victimization. Half the participants will receive RealConsent-F and half will receive an attention-placebo control ("Stress and Mood Management").

Sexual assault of college women is a serious and complex public health problem: one in five college women report being sexually assaulted. The purpose of this study is to conduct a randomized controlled trial study with 750 female college students from three universities to test the efficacy of RealConsent, a sexual violence risk reduction program for college women, compared to an attention-placebo control. RealConsent is a multi-media 3-hour program based on social cognitive theory and alcohol myopia theory. The primary outcome will be self-reported sexual violence victimization and the secondary outcomes will be alcohol and dating protective- and risk-related behaviors and resistance strategies. The investigators expect that women in the treatment group will report less sexual violence victimization than women in the control group. Expected outcomes are demonstrated feasibility and efficacy of a technologically novel risk reduction program for female college students.

Inclusion Criteria:

• female, aged 18-20 years, full-time freshmen, matriculated at Georgia State University, Emory University, or University of Georgia, and single (i.e., not in a committed dating relationship).

Exclusion Criteria:

• other education levels, married, and/or graduate status