College students’ perceptions of alcohol’s role in disclosures of sexual assault and intimate partner violence

Objective: Much is known about how alcohol increases the risk of sexual assault or intimate partner violence victimization during college. This research qualitatively explores perceptions about how alcohol influences disclosures about these events to informal supports. Participants: Participants included college students who received a disclosure wherein they or the survivor were drinking during the disclosure (n = 81). Methods: Responses were coded with regard to who was drinking and whether the effect of drinking during the disclosure was perceived as positive, negative, mixed, or neutral/none. Results: Participants perceived alcohol to have both positive (e.g., increasing the likelihood of discussing difficult topics) and negative (e.g., cognitive impairment increased negative emotions) effects on disclosures. Conclusion: Prevention and intervention efforts should identify targeted strategies (e.g., remembering one or two easy and helpful phrases; revisiting the topic again while sober) to help survivors and disclosure recipients have constructive conversations in the presence of alcohol

Opportunities for improving animal welfare in rodent models of epilepsy and seizures

Animal models of epilepsy and seizures, mostly involving mice and rats, are used to understand the pathophysiology of the different forms of epilepsy and their comorbidities, to identify biomarkers, and to discover new antiepileptic drugs and treatments for comorbidities. Such models represent an important area for application of the 3Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement of animal use). This report provides background information and recommendations aimed at minimising pain, suffering and distress in rodent models of epilepsy and seizures in order to improve animal welfare and optimise the quality of studies in this area. The report includes practical guidance on principles of choosing a model, induction procedures, in vivo recordings, perioperative care, welfare assessment, humane endpoints, social housing, environmental enrichment, reporting of studies and data sharing. In addition, some model-specific welfare considerations are discussed, and data gaps and areas for further research are identified. The guidance is based upon a systematic review of the scientific literature, survey of the international epilepsy research community, consultation with veterinarians and animal care and welfare officers, and the expert opinion and practical experience of the members of a Working Group convened by the United Kingdom's National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs)

Examining Committed Action in Chronic Pain:Further Validation and Clinical Utility of the Committed Action Questionnaire

Psychosocial treatments for chronic pain conditions, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, have highlighted minimizing pain avoidance behaviors and increasing engagement in valued activities as key treatment targets. In terms of salient processes within Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, committed action is considered essential to the pursuit of a meaningful life, as it entails a flexible persistence over time in living consistently with one's values. To date, however, only 1 study has examined the association between measures of committed action and important aspects of pain-related functioning. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the reliability of the Committed Action Questionnaire (CAQ) in a sample of 149 chronic pain patients, perform a confirmatory analysis of its factor structure, and examine how CAQ scores uniquely account for variance in functioning. Confirmatory factor analyses provided support for a 2-factor model, and regression analyses, which examined the cross-sectional direct effects of the 2 subscales on health-related functioning, indicated that the CAQ accounted for significant variance in functioning after controlling for relevant covariates. Overall, these findings provide further support for the CAQ as a measure of adaptive functioning in those with longstanding pain. PERSPECTIVE: This article presents additional evidence for the reliability and validity of the CAQ with chronic pain patients. Confirmatory factor analyses provided support for the 2-factor model, with both subscales demonstrating significant associations with multiple facets of health- and pain-related functioning

Prospective Predictors of Receiving Disclosures of Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Assault Among College Students

Objective: Previous research has indicated that many undergraduates receive disclosures of sexual assault and intimate partner violence (IPV) from their peers; however, much of this research has been cross-sectional. The present study assessed the extent to which demographic characteristics and victimization history predicted whether participants received disclosures over the subsequent 6 months. Directional hypotheses assessed whether psychological symptoms and attitudes predicted, or were consequences of, disclosures at follow-up. Method: College students (n = 867) from a broader treatment intervention study completed pretest (Time 1) and 6-month follow-up surveys (Time 2). Results: Individuals who reported new disclosures at follow-up (56%) were more likely to be women, have previous experience receiving either sexual assault or IPV disclosures, and have experienced sexual assault or IPV victimization in their lifetime and across the follow-up period. Sexual orientation did not predict receipt of disclosures at follow-up; intervention group did not moderate these relationships. Results of longitudinal structural equation models found that although higher Time 1 posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and depressive symptoms predicted disclosure status at follow-up, Time 1 disclosure status did not predict subsequent increases in posttraumatic stress disorder and depressive symptoms. Attitudinal variables were not significantly associated with disclosures reported at Time 1 or follow-up. Conclusions: Findings suggest the importance of attending to personal experiences of victimization within interventions aiming to improve responses to disclosure. Although individuals with higher distress are more likely to receive subsequent disclosures, disclosure does not appear to lead to increases in long-term psychological distress

Exploring the association between anticipated and actual responses to disclosures of intimate partner violence and sexual assault

Victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual assault (SA) commonly disclose their experiences to friends or family members, or within other personal relationships. Disclosure recipients’ responses to these disclosures are associated with victims’ mental health. Previous research has separately measured both actual responses to IPV/SA and anticipated responses to IPV/SA (e.g., response to a hypothetical scenario) from the perspective of disclosure recipients. Yet, little research has described the association between disclosure recipients’ anticipated and actual responses. The aim of the current paper was to use a prospective design to examine the association between disclosure recipients’ anticipated and actual responses to IPV/SA, including positive and negative social reactions, perceptions of victim responsibility, empathy, and confusion and ineffectiveness about how to respond. Participants (N = 126 college students aged 18–23; 70.6% women) answered questions about their anticipated responses to a hypothetical IPV/SA disclosure scenario, and then six months later answered the same questions about their actual responses to an actual disclosure of IPV/SA. Although most anticipated and actual responses were significantly associated, associations were moderate in size. Some associations were stronger for participants with a closer relationship to the victim, for participants who had their own victimization history, for women, and for men. Individuals can predict their responses to some degree, but are not totally accurate in doing so

Predictors of uptake and retention in an intervention to improve social reactions to disclosures of sexual assault and partner abuse

Objective: Examine uptake (e.g., initial session participation) and retention (e.g., booster session participation) in an intervention about responding to sexual assault and partner abuse disclosures. Participants: Participants were 836 students (primarily White; upper-middle class) at a medium-sized university. Method: Participants completed baseline surveys, were invited to a two-session intervention, and responded to a follow-up survey. Results: Initial session attendance was 36.2% (n = 303); of those, 83.1% (n = 252) attended the booster. Female, sexual minority students, and students with fewer prior negative reactions, and higher initial session satisfaction were more likely to attend than other students. Participants’ reported reasons for not attending included scheduling problems and topic discomfort. Participants reported that remote attendance and higher cash incentives would have made attendance more likely. Conclusion: Findings indicate the draw of cash incentives, a need to reach high-risk students and integrate into existing organizations, and the potential for individualized prevention

Differences in Social Reactions by Gender of Victime & Recipient Conceptions in Sexual Assault from a Disclosure Recipient\u27s View

Research into the role of the gender of the victim and of the individuals’ responses to sexual assault disclosures has been widely explored from the victim’s perspective. This study explores how social reactions about sexual assault (SA) or intimate partner violence (IPV) differ based on the genders of the victim and disclosure recipient. Outcomes include: negative and positive social reactions, perceptions of victim responsibility, confusion with the victim post-disclosure, and the recipient’s feelings of effectiveness as a listener. In the baseline data from a larger intervention trial, participants responded to whether someone had disclosed to them about SA or IPV in the last six months. Participants (N=742) who indicated they were a disclosure recipient were included in the analysis. Participants reported on the gender of the victim and how they responded. Most disclosures (71%) were both female, whereas 12.4% of disclosures were a woman disclosing to a man or a both male. Results generally indicated that male disclosure recipients had the most negative responses to disclosure, especially when the victims were male. Female disclosure recipients had the least negative response to SA disclosures, especially when the victims were female. Male disclosure recipients’ blaming responses were greater overall; they were highest in response to disclosures by male victims. Victim empathy was marginally significant with a significant difference between both being male versus both being female. The negative attributions against male victims and by male disclosers suggests a need for male-focused interventions to challenge negative attitudes concerning SA and IPV

Differences in Social Reactions by Gender of Victime & Recipient Conceptions in Sexual Assault from a Disclosure Recipient\u27s View

Research into the role of the gender of the victim and of the individuals’ responses to sexual assault disclosures has been widely explored from the victim’s perspective. This study explores how social reactions about sexual assault (SA) or intimate partner violence (IPV) differ based on the genders of the victim and disclosure recipient. Outcomes include: negative and positive social reactions, perceptions of victim responsibility, confusion with the victim post-disclosure, and the recipient’s feelings of effectiveness as a listener. In the baseline data from a larger intervention trial, participants responded to whether someone had disclosed to them about SA or IPV in the last six months. Participants (N=742) who indicated they were a disclosure recipient were included in the analysis. Participants reported on the gender of the victim and how they responded. Most disclosures (71%) were both female, whereas 12.4% of disclosures were a woman disclosing to a man or a both male. Results generally indicated that male disclosure recipients had the most negative responses to disclosure, especially when the victims were male. Female disclosure recipients had the least negative response to SA disclosures, especially when the victims were female. Male disclosure recipients’ blaming responses were greater overall; they were highest in response to disclosures by male victims. Victim empathy was marginally significant with a significant difference between both being male versus both being female. The negative attributions against male victims and by male disclosers suggests a need for male-focused interventions to challenge negative attitudes concerning SA and IPV

A mixed-method process evaluation of an intervention to improve social reactions to disclosures of sexual assault and partner abuse

Because of the high rates and deleterious consequences of sexual assault (SA) and partner abuse (PA) on college campuses, there is a proliferation of programming to both prevent and respond to these issues. Most research to date, however, presents outcome evaluation data on these programs and neglects to present process evaluation data which are critical for program refinement and dissemination. The purpose of this study was to present process evaluation data (i.e., acceptability and feasibility) specific to a program that endeavored to increase positive and decrease negative social reactions from disclosure recipients to individuals disclosing SA and PA. Participants were 303 students who completed the program and participated in postintervention surveys and a subset of students (n = 18) who completed exit interviews. Results documented that the program was both feasible and acceptable, as evidenced by high satisfaction ratings. Important suggestions were also provided for how to improve the program, such as reducing repetition and making scenarios more realistic. Finally, participants who reported higher program engagement and more program usage generally reported more intentions to provide positive social reactions, less intentions to provide negative social reactions, and less actual negative social reactions. This information is useful not only for adapting the current program discussed herein but also for program developers and preventionists wishing to create similar programming to effectively prevent and improve response to SA and PA

Predictors of uptake and retention in an intervention to improve social reactions to disclosures of sexual assault and partner abuse

Objective: Examine uptake (e.g., initial session participation) and retention (e.g., booster session participation) in an intervention about responding to sexual assault and partner abuse disclosures. Participants: Participants were 836 students (primarily White; upper-middle class) at a medium-sized university. Method: Participants completed baseline surveys, were invited to a two-session intervention, and responded to a follow-up survey. Results: Initial session attendance was 36.2% (n = 303); of those, 83.1% (n = 252) attended the booster. Female, sexual minority students, and students with fewer prior negative reactions, and higher initial session satisfaction were more likely to attend than other students. Participants’ reported reasons for not attending included scheduling problems and topic discomfort. Participants reported that remote attendance and higher cash incentives would have made attendance more likely. Conclusion: Findings indicate the draw of cash incentives, a need to reach high-risk students and integrate into existing organizations, and the potential for individualized prevention