A Web-Based Sexual Violence, Alcohol Misuse, and Bystander Intervention Program for College Women (RealConsent):...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Psychology
• Technology in Health

Background:

• Sexual violence (SV) remains a persistent issue among college women, with incidence rates unchanged for two decades.
• There is a critical need for innovative, low-resource, and technology-driven prevention strategies.
• Existing prevention methods often lack scalability and broad reach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a novel internet-based intervention, RealConsent, for first-year college women.
• To determine if RealConsent reduces risk of SV exposure and alcohol misuse.
• To assess if RealConsent increases alcohol protective behaviors and bystander interventions.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 881 first-year college women aged 18-20.
• Participants were randomized to either the RealConsent intervention (n=444) or an attention-matched placebo control (n=437).
• The RealConsent intervention comprised four automated modules using entertainment-education and behavior change techniques, with outcomes assessed at baseline and 6-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• Participants in the RealConsent group showed significantly less exposure to SV compared to the placebo group (IRR 0.48, P=.002).
• The RealConsent group demonstrated increased alcohol protective behaviors (aOR 1.17, P=.03) and reduced binge drinking (IRR 0.81, P=.003).
• Full dosage of RealConsent was associated with increased bystander behavior engagement (aOR 1.72, P=.006).

Conclusions:

• The RealConsent program successfully decreased SV exposure and enhanced protective behaviors in at-risk college women.
• Its web-based and mobile platform facilitates easy dissemination.
• RealConsent shows significant potential for reducing campus sexual violence through accessible technology.