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Preventing college women's sexual victimization through parent based intervention: a randomized controlled trial
Maria Testa1, Joseph H Hoffman, Jennifer A Livingston
1Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA. testa@ria.buffalo.edu
Summary
Parent-based interventions (PBI) effectively reduced alcohol-involved sexual victimization among college women. The program enhanced mother-daughter communication, leading to less heavy drinking and fewer sexual victimization incidents.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Alcohol-involved sexual victimization is a significant risk for college students.
- Parental communication plays a role in adolescent risk behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a parent-based intervention (PBI) designed to reduce alcohol-involved sexual victimization in first-year college students.
- To examine the role of mother-daughter communication and heavy episodic drinking in mediating intervention effects.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving female high school seniors and their mothers.
- Four conditions: Alcohol PBI, Enhanced Alcohol + Sex PBI, Control, and Unmeasured Control.
- Intervention involved informational handbooks and encouraged mother-daughter discussions.
Main Results:
- Parent-based interventions were associated with a lower incidence of incapacitated rape.
- Path analysis supported an indirect effects model: intervention increased communication, reducing heavy drinking and subsequent victimization.
- Enhanced PBI showed significant reductions in alcohol-involved sexual victimization.
Conclusions:
- Parent-based interventions are effective in reducing alcohol-involved sexual victimization among college women.
- Enhancing mother-daughter communication is a key mechanism for reducing alcohol-related risks.
- Targeted interventions can mitigate sexual victimization risks associated with college transition.
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