Preventing Sexual Aggression among University Students: An Online Intervention Study

性侵犯被定义为未经同意的性接触，是青年人中普遍存在的问题，约五分之一的妇女和比例较低但相当大比例的男子报告有受害经历。然而，缺乏有效的循证预防方案。拟议的项目将制定和评估一项干预措施，以防止大学生中的性侵犯行为和受害行为。通过将实验评价与纵向设计相结合，不仅可以评估干预措施的有效性，还可以评估干预措施针对的风险因素对性侵犯受害和犯罪概率的因果影响的假设。根据过去对性侵犯流行率以及犯罪风险因素和受害脆弱性因素的研究，该计划将包括2018/19学年开始上大学的一年级学生，并在第一年结束时跟踪他们两个后续数据波（+8个月）和第二年（+12个月）的研究，共涵盖20个月。基于理论的干预中心是改变自愿性行为的性脚本，因为这些认知表征已被证明在预测性侵犯方面起着决定性作用。性脚本被认为是危险的，因为它们含有与性侵犯实施和/或受害的可能性增加有关的因素。这些因素包括饮酒，模糊的沟通模式，以及与临时伴侣的性接触，这些因素会影响性行为。此外，干预将针对性相关的认知（性自尊，接受性胁迫）和行为（性自信，使用色情）。这些要素将在六个模块中以在线形式每周提供一次，包括基线评估、干预后一周的干预后评估以及第一年和第二年研究结束时的两次随访。在每个波时，将干预组与未治疗对照组进行比较。干预组中性侵犯受害和犯罪的几率降低是关键的结果变量。该项目采取了一种性别包容的方法，考虑到男性和女性的受害者和犯罪者角色，并根据参与者的性别和性经历背景（异性和/或同性性接触）调整干预措施。

Sexual aggression, defined as sexual contact without consent, is a widespread problem among young people, with about one in five women and a lower, yet substantial proportion of men reporting victimization experiences. However, there is a lack of effective, evidence-based prevention programs. The proposed project will develop and evaluate an intervention to prevent sexual aggression perpetration and victimization among university students. By combining an experimental evaluation with a longitudinal design, it is possible not only to assess the efficacy of the intervention but also to evaluate hypotheses about the causal impact of the risk factors targeted by the intervention on the probability of sexual aggression victimization and perpetration. Based on past research on the prevalence of sexual aggression as well as risk factors of perpetration and vulnerability factors of victimization, the program will include first-year students starting university in the academic year 2018/19 and follow them over two follow-up data waves at the end of their first year (+ 8 months) and second year (+ 12 months) of study, covering a total of 20 months. The theory-based intervention centers on changing sexual scripts for consensual sex, as these cognitive representations have been shown to play a decisive role in predicting sexual aggression. Sexual scripts are considered risky to the extent that they contain factors linked to a heightened probability of sexual aggression perpetration and/or victimization. These factors include alcohol use, ambiguous communication pattern, and sexual contacts with casual partners, which inform sexual behavior. In addition, the intervention will target sexuality-related cognitions (sexual self-esteem, acceptance of sexual coercion) and behaviors (sexual assertiveness, use of pornography). These elements will be addressed in six modules presented at weekly intervals in an online format, with a baseline assessment, a post-intervention assessment a week after the intervention, and two follow-ups at the end of the first and second year of study. The intervention group will be compared to a non-treated control group at each wave. Reduced odds of sexual aggression victimization and perpetration in the intervention group are the critical outcome variables. The project adopts a gender-inclusive approach by considering males and females in both victim and perpetrator roles and tailoring the intervention to participants’ gender and sexual experience background (opposite and/or same-sex sexual contacts).