Student engagement and comfort during a web-based personalized feedback intervention for alcohol and sexual assault

• Published in: Addictive behaviors Vol. 82; pp. 23 - 27
• Main Authors: Jaffe, Anna E., Bountress, Kaitlin E., Metzger, Isha W., Maples-Keller, Jessica L., Pinsky, Hanna T., George, William H., Gilmore, Amanda K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2018; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Alcohol; Alcohol use; Alcohols; Assaults; College students; Drinking behavior; Feedback; Gender; Mental health; Risk factors; Risk reduction; Sex crimes; Sexual assault; Womens health; Alcohol; Mental health; Gender
• ISSN: 0306-4603; 1873-6327
• DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.02.020

The purpose of this study was to investigate individual engagement and comfort during a web-based intervention for alcohol and sexual assault risk reduction. Participants were 264 college women (aged 18–20) who reported engaging in heavy episodic drinking in the past month. Participants were randomized to either an intervention condition (alcohol, sexual assault risk reduction, or combined) or a control condition (full or minimal assessment). Participants rated their experiences during the procedures following the assessment or receipt of the intervention depending on condition. Survey usage information (e.g., time data, completion of intervention) was automatically recorded. Most participants completed the intervention as intended (in a reasonable amount of time, in private, without consuming substances). Women with a sexual assault history were most comfortable in the sexual assault risk reduction intervention, whereas women who frequently engaged in heavy episodic drinking were least comfortable in the alcohol intervention condition. Self-reported distraction was not impacted by personal relevance of the intervention, but was associated with setting of participation. Results suggest that most college women completed web-based personalized feedback interventions as designed, despite minimal discomfort. •Web-based interventions were used to target alcohol misuse and sexual assault (SA).•Engagement and comfort were assessed in college students.•Most participants completed the intervention as intended (while sober, in private).•Frequent drinkers were least comfortable in the alcohol intervention.•Women with a SA history were most comfortable in the SA risk reduction intervention.