Reducing Alcohol-Related Sexual Assault Risk: Who Uses Interpersonal Protective Behaviors and Why?

Objective: Interpersonal protective behaviors (IPB) can be used by both men and women to lower their risk of involvement in alcohol-related sexual assault (ARSA)—a problem of particular concern among American college students. However, little is known about students’ perceptions of IPB, motives for using or not using them, and for whom those motives may vary. The aims of the current study were to 1) identify predictors of IPB use, using a comprehensive theoretical framework; and 2) examine gender and sexual victimization history (SVH), two risk factors associated with ARSA, as moderators within the framework predicting IPB use over time. Method: A random sample of college students (N = 508) from a large, public university completed a series of three web-based surveys assessing predictors of IPB use over a period of 6 months. Path analysis was used to examine the influence of IPB-specific distal (expectancies, attitudes, norms, and self-concept) and proximal (intentions and willingness to use IPB) predictors on IPB use. Additional models examined gender and SVH as grouping variables within this framework. Results: Within the overall model, both willingness and intentions positively and significantly predicted IPB use, accounting for 34% of the variance in IPB use. Normative beliefs, self-concept, and attitudes toward IPB use significantly predicted both intentions and willingness.  However, expectancies were significantly associated with only intentions. Important differences emerged for males and females, such that only intentions significantly predicted IPB use among males. Further nuances emerged when predictors of IPB use were examined by both gender and SVH. For example, among women, expectancies and attitudes predicted intentions, whereas among men, intentions were associated with descriptive norms. Discussion: Intentions and willingness to use IPB were high among both men and women, suggesting IPB may be a useful tool to target in ARSA prevention efforts. Findings revealed that, for all students, intentions to use IPB strongly influence one’s IPB use, though willingness may have additional influence for women with SVH. The observed differences among the IPB-specific distal predictors will be useful in tailoring ARSA prevention initiatives for particularly at-risk populations, especially women and individuals with SVH.