# Nexus of Risk: Sexual Assault, Alcohol Use, and Risky Sex among College Women

> **NIH NIH R34** · UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO · 2020 · $181,647

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Sexual assault is a significant public health problem. The sequelae of victimization involve both mental and
physical health problems (Bedard-Gilligan et al., 2011; Hughes et al., 2010), and once victimized, women are
at significant increased risk for revictimization (Classen et al., 2005; Messman-Moore & Long, 2003). Sexual
assault has reached epidemic proportions on college campuses, with undergraduate women reporting high
rates of victimization (Krebs et al., 2007). Alcohol use is intimately intertwined with sexual violence (Abbey,
2011), as well as high-risk sexual behavior (Scott-Sheldon et al., 2010). Work on the situational precipitants of
sexual assault has relied primarily on women's retrospective accounts, even though autobiographical memory
is plagued by error (Bradburn et al., 1987). One way to obtain ecologically valid observations of these
precipitants may be through Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA). EMA data are collected in near real-
time and are considered to have greater validity than retrospective accounts (Shiffman et al., 2008). The
primary aim of this study will be to use EMA to obtain a better understanding of the contextual determinants of
sexual assault, as well as the co-occurrence of victimization, risky sex, and substance use. This basic work
then will inform the development of an Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI) for college women to reduce
their risk. EMI would permit an opportunity to intervene prior to and during high-risk situations by providing
women with personalized feedback about their level of risk for victimization and related adverse events. The
secondary aim of this study will be to conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing the effectiveness
of EMA/EMI, relative to EMA-only and an assessment only control group, in decreasing rates of sexual assault,
risky sexual behavior, and substance use. This RCT will be prospective in design and target women who are at
increased risk for assault (freshman). If supported, this work would offer college campuses a cost-effective,
easily disseminated approach to preventing assault and other adverse consequences.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9883621
- **Project number:** 5R34AA026055-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO
- **Principal Investigator:** Elizabeth Yeater
- **Activity code:** R34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $181,647
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-05-05 → 2023-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9883621

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9883621, Nexus of Risk: Sexual Assault, Alcohol Use, and Risky Sex among College Women (5R34AA026055-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9883621. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*