Exploring how bystanders' own intoxication influences their ability to intervene appropriately

NIH RePORTER · NIH · R15 · $77,236 · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

Abstract The current diversity supplement extends the aims of the parent grant (R15AA028910). The parent grant is a 3-year R15 AREA project designed to create the novel Bystander Intervention for Problematic Alcohol Use Measure (BIPAUM), with specific aims to 1) develop the measure and establish the psychometric properties of bystander intervention for PAU, and 2) validate the BIPAUM. To address specific aim one, 20 focus groups have been conducted among diverse college students from various groups (i.e., White, Black/African American, Latinx, Middle Eastern/Arab, Asian American, men, women, LGBTQIA+, sorority members, fraternity members) to identify realistic drinking scenarios college students have experienced and identify opportunities for intervention. Student feedback will inform item development of the BIPAUM measure which will then go under the process of validation to ultimately create a validated measure of bystander behaviors for problematic alcohol use (PAU). Supplemental questions were added to the focus group guide that extends previously unforeseen components of this study. While the parent grant briefly asks about risky situations that may arise as a result of PAU, it does not examine how bystander intervention may look different depending on the situation (i.e., events leading to sexual assault [SA]). The parent study also does not examine events leading up to potential alcohol-related or facilitated risky situations (i.e., in SA, consent-seeking or coercive strategies involving alcohol). Lastly, the parent study does not examine the influence of bystander intoxication on ability to notice, interpret, assume responsibility, or intervene in these drinking situations. These additional questions will help enhance our understanding of realistic drinking situations among diverse college students and potential consequences that may arise (i.e., alcohol- facilitated sexual assault) and inform our measure of bystander behavior for PAU. This supplemental application is important in identifying events leading up to harmful consequences of problematic drinking and ways to intervene that will contribute to the literature on bystander intervention and alcohol-facilitated sexual assaults. Creating highly realistic and informed bystander interventions may more effectively lead to increases in helpful bystander behaviors. This supplemental application promotes diversity in health-related research by providing targeted mentorship and training to an early scientist in the field who will be able to develop their methodological skills, gain research experience leading the proposed activities, and gain opportunities to be involved in manuscript development and dissemination of findings. Lastly, the candidate will write an f31 grant after all proposed activities are completed to continue the efforts of developing and implementing a brief bystander intervention for alcohol-facilitated sexual assault.

Key facts

NIH application ID
10611720
Project number
3R15AA028910-01S1
Recipient
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA CHARLOTTE
Principal Investigator
ERIKA Ann MONTANARO
Activity code
R15
Funding institute
NIH
Fiscal year
2022
Award amount
$77,236
Award type
3
Project period
2022-08-01 → 2024-07-31