Reducing Sexual Aggression in Male College Students: An Investigation of Self-help Interventions

与全国平均水平相比，英国大学校园中男性性犯罪的发生率高得令人担忧。尽管如此，目前还没有任何既定的干预措施来帮助降低男学生的性犯罪率。有趣的是，当代美国的研究表明，情绪调节缺陷——性犯罪者再犯的一个关键风险因素——在大学男性中也很突出。因此，专注于改善情绪管理的干预措施（例如，认知行为疗法[CBT]，正念）可能是减少校园性侵犯的有效手段。如果设计成自我主导并易于获取（例如，通过在线门户网站），这种干预措施可以长期减少大量学生中的性侵犯行为。目的1。评估低强度在线CBT干预和基于正念的认知治疗（MBCT）干预在减少大学男性性侵犯中的效果；2. 比较这些干预措施在减少大学男性性侵犯方面的效果；3. 如果发现其中一种或两种自助干预措施有效，探索与之相关的变化机制。我将进行至少四项新颖的实证研究来研究上述目标。参与者将包括通过自愿抽样技术在网上招募的大学男性，他们在性侵犯吸引力量表上自我报告有性侵犯倾向。参与者人数将使用先验功率分析确定。注意，下面描述的所有干预措施都将包括在线自主课程，指导参与者选择15到30分钟的活动，这些活动将在4到6周的时间内完成。这些活动将帮助参与者制定有效的应对策略，以改变他们无益的认知模式，并将使用关键的临床文献进行设计。研究一将评估CBT干预在减少大学男性性侵犯方面的效果。A 3（时间：T1 vs. T2 vs. T3） x 2（组：实验组vs.对照组）混合设计方差分析将用于比较参与者在干预之前、期间和完成后自我报告的性侵犯等级——用性侵犯吸引力量表4来衡量。重要的相互作用将通过事后t检验来探讨。《情绪调节困难量表》、《人际反应指数》和《研究投入量表》也将由被试填写博士奖学金申请表6/11/2017 3，分别评估情绪调节和共情的变化，以及干预的参与水平。研究二将遵循与研究一相同的结构，但将评估MBCT干预在减少性侵犯方面的效果。然后，研究三将比较CBT和MBCT干预在减少性侵犯方面的效果，并将提供一个机会来复制任何显著的效果。研究四将探讨在线CBT干预与被试性侵犯减少之间是否存在特定的中介因素。来自临床文献的假设介质将通过研究1和2的参与者在T1和T3完成的相关自我报告测量来评估。将使用因果步骤方法对数据进行分析。

Compared to national averages, the incident rate of male-perpetrated sexual offences is worryingly high on UK university campuses. Despite this, there have been no established interventions designed to help lower sexual offence rates amongst male students. Interestingly, contemporary US research has suggested that emotional regulation deficits - a key risk factor for sexual offender recidivism - are also salient amongst university males . As such, interventions focussing on improving emotional management (e.g., cognitive behavioural therapy [CBT], mindfulness) may provide an effective means of reducing sexual assaults on campuses. If designed to be self-led and made easily accessible (e.g., via an online portal), such interventions could bring about long-term reductions in sexual aggression amongst large groups of students. Aims 1. To assess the efficacy of a low-intensity online CBT intervention and a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) intervention in reducing sexual aggression amongst university males; 2. To compare the efficacy of these interventions in reducing sexual aggression amongst university males; 3. To explore the mechanisms of change associated with either or both of the self-help interventions, if they are found to be effective. Structure of PhD I will conduct at least four novel empirical studies to investigate the above aims. Participants will comprise university males, recruited online via voluntary sampling techniques, who self-report a proclivity towards sexual aggression on the attraction to sexual aggression scale4 . Participant numbers will be determined using a-priori power analyses. Note, all interventions described below will comprise online self-led courses that guide participants through a selection of 15 to 30-minute activities, which are to be completed over a four to six-week period. These activities will help participants to develop effective coping strategies to change their unhelpful cognitive patterns, and will be designed using key clinical literature. Study One will assess the efficacy of a CBT intervention in reducing sexual aggression amongst university males. A 3 (Time: T1 vs. T2 vs. T3) x 2 (Group: Experimental vs. Control) mixed-design ANOVA will be used to compare participants' self-reported sexual aggression ratings - as measured using the attraction to sexual aggression scale4 - before, during, and after completion of the intervention. Significant interactions will be explored with post-hoc t-tests. The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale , the Interpersonal Reactivity Index6 , and a research engagement scale will also be PhD Scholarship Application Form 6/11/2017 3 completed by participants to assess changes in emotional regulation and empathy, and level of participation in the interventions respectively. Study Two will follow the same structure as Study One, but will assess the efficacy of an MBCT intervention in reducing sexual aggression. Study Three will then compare the efficacy of the CBT and MBCT interventions in reducing sexual aggression, and will provide an opportunity to replicate any significant effects. Study Four will explore whether particular factors mediate the relationship between the online CBT intervention and reductions in participants' sexual aggression. The hypothesized mediators - derived from clinical literature - will be assessed using relevant self-report measures completed by participants at T1 and T3 of Studies One and Two. Data will be analysed using the causal steps approach to mediation.