# Integrated Alcohol and Sexual Assault Prevention for Bisexual Women

> **NIH NIH R34** · RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL · 2024 · $275,273

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 Alcohol misuse, sexual assault, and psychological distress (anxiety, depression) are significant
interconnected problems among bisexual women. Heavy drinking is a primary risk factor for sexual victimization
and increases risk for revictimization. Bisexual women report higher rates of heavy episodic drinking compared
to heterosexual women, as well as higher rates of sexual assault compared to heterosexual or lesbian women.
Bisexual women also report higher levels of minority stress, lower levels of connection to the LGBTQ+
community, and greater psychological distress (anxiety, depression) compared to lesbian women. Taken
together, there is a strong need to target alcohol use, sexual assault, and psychological distress among bisexual
women. Problematically, existing integrated alcohol and sexual assault interventions do not consider the unique
stressors (minority stress, disconnection from the LGBTQ+ community) faced by bisexual women. Bisexual
women also report less benefit from existing prevention approaches interventions. An integrated alcohol and
sexual assault prevention program specifically tailored to bisexual women is therefore warranted. The proposed
research will develop an intervention targeted toward bisexual college women between the ages of 18 – 30 with
a history of sexual victimization who report heavy episodic drinking, a particularly high-risk group. The
intervention will integrate (a) evidence-based motivational interviewing with personalized feedback to address
risky alcohol use, (b) mindfulness skills training to reduce psychological distress, and (c) sexual assault risk
reduction and resistance education as well as bystander intervention skills training with the goal of decreasing
revictimization. Following a Stage 1A and 1B treatment development model, in Stage 1A information from
informant interviews (N = 10), three focus groups (N = 30), stakeholder interviews (N = 6), and a campus advisory
board will guide the development of the integrated intervention. The integrated intervention will be tested in an
open trial (N = 20) in which interview and self-report methods will be utilized to gather information regarding the
feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. The intervention will be revised and then evaluated in a Stage 1B
randomized pilot trial involving 90 women assigned to the proposed intervention or a wait list control group.
Women will be followed at 2- and 4- months post-baseline. In the Revision Phase, we will conduct exit interviews
and revise the intervention to prepare for a larger clinical trial. Results of this research are expected to inform
the development of interventions that not only target the intersection of alcohol use and sexual assault among
bisexual college women, but also promote the overall wellbeing of bisexual women. This integrated approach
represents a shift in how these public health problems are typically addressed and has the potential for significant
impac...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10917072
- **Project number:** 5R34AA030035-03
- **Recipient organization:** RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Lindsay Marie Orchowski
- **Activity code:** R34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $275,273
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-09-10 → 2025-03-21

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10917072

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10917072, Integrated Alcohol and Sexual Assault Prevention for Bisexual Women (5R34AA030035-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10917072. Licensed CC0.

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