Study of Alcohol Use and Sexual Communication Effects on Intimate Partner Violence Among Couples in a Laboratory Setting

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating the immediate impact of alcohol consumption and sexual communication styles on intimate partner sexual violence IPSV among couples who drink alcohol. The study seeks to understand how alcohol use and communication approaches contribute to IPSV perpetration, a significant but under-researched public health issue. The trial involves recruiting 240 couples from the Metro-Denver area to explore these dynamics within a controlled laboratory environment. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four groups combining alcohol consumption or no-alcohol control beverage with either direct or indirect verbal communication about sexual preferences. After verifying eligibility and conducting initial assessments including breath alcohol content and sobriety tests, participants will consume their assigned beverage. Once reaching a breath alcohol content of 0.07 or immediately after drinking in the no-alcohol group, participants will complete a laboratory assessment measuring sexual violence perpetration using the Sexual Imposition Paradigm. During the study, couples will complete baseline surveys on demographics, alcohol use, and communication. Female participants will take pregnancy tests for safety. Researchers will measure sexual violence perpetration up to one hour after beverage consumption, focusing on occurrence and duration. Monitoring includes breath tests and adherence to study procedures. The total participation timeline includes screening, beverage administration, assessment, and follow-up to evaluate the acute effects of alcohol and communication on IPSV.

Alcohol and Sexual Communication Among Couples in the Laboratory