# The Effect of Alcohol and Masculinity on Sexual Aggression in Young Adult Men

> **NIH NIH F31** · INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS · 2021 · $34,931

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The proposed fellowship is designed to prepare the PI for a career as a public health scientist
examining the interplay of alcohol and personality constructs in predicting sexual aggression with the
intention of translating this work into interventions. To accomplish this goal, the training plan focuses
on developing expertise in the following domains: 1) understanding mechanisms that create a
bidirectional relationship between alcohol use and sexual aggression, 2) modeling and measuring
alcohol intoxication in the laboratory, 3) conducting experimental paradigms that model and measure
real life behavioral experiences of young men (e.g., sexual aggression), and 4) disseminating findings to
other researchers and those working within the larger community. To achieve these competencies and
further her academic training, the PI will have intensive mentorship, training, and consultation with
her Sponsor, Dr. Kristen Jozkowski, Co-Sponsor, Dr. Lindsay Ham, and mentor, Dr. Dominic Parrott.
The PI will also work on her proposed project to understand if men who are intoxicated and have their
masculinity threatened will respond with sexual aggression. Previous alcohol administration research
indicates that men who are intoxicated are more likely to engage in sexually aggressive behaviors
compared to men who are sober. Research using experimental paradigms to manipulate masculinity
have also established men are more likely to be aggressive when they feel their masculinity is
threatened. However, no study has examined the combined effects of alcohol intoxication and threats to
masculinity on proclivity to engage in sexual aggression. The previous research conducted with both
constructs would suggest that men who are intoxicated and have their masculinity threatened would
be more likely to engage in sexual aggression than those who are sober and threatened; we aim to test
this hypothesis via a survey and an in-person alcohol administration study. The survey will consist of a
medical screener and assessments of the aforementioned constructs (n=400 men, ages 21-30). We plan
to assess the moderating role of masculinity on drinking behaviors with sexual aggression. For the
alcohol administration study, [young men (n=130, ages 21-30)] recruited through the screener will be
randomly assigned to either ingest alcohol (target BAC .08%) or remain sober. Participants will move
through two paradigms: 1) that challenges masculinity (Gender Threat Paradigm) and 2) provides men
an opportunity to engage in a proxy to sexual aggression (Sexual Imposition Paradigm). In line with
NIAAA's mission to include environmental factors to inform prevention, this study serves as an
important step in understanding male-to-female alcohol interactions that can increase risk of sexual
aggression. This information would be valuable for understanding the causal chain that could increase
men's risk of sexual aggression and inform prevention programs.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10128181
- **Project number:** 5F31AA027150-03
- **Recipient organization:** INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS
- **Principal Investigator:** Tiffany Lynn Marcantonio
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $34,931
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-03-13 → 2022-03-12

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10128181

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10128181, The Effect of Alcohol and Masculinity on Sexual Aggression in Young Adult Men (5F31AA027150-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10128181. Licensed CC0.

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