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

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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.