Code of Respect (X-CoRe): Trial of a Multi-level Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Prevention Intervention for Active Duty Airmen

Official title

Code of Respect (X-CoRe): a Randomized Controlled Trial of a Multi-level Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Prevention Intervention for Active Duty Airmen

Overview

The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of Code of Respect (X-CoRe) multi-level sexual assault (SA) and harassment (SH) prevention program in improving psychosocial determinants (e.g., knowledge, skills, self-efficacy, attitudes) related to respectful/disrespectful relationships, to examine the efficacy of X-CoRe in reducing SA and sexual harassment SH victimization and to examine the efficacy of X-CoRe increasing bystander behavior and improving unit cohesion and mission readiness by decreasing secondary risk and harmful behaviors (e.g., alcohol misuse, intimate partner violence, suicide ideation). The study will be conducted at at Joint Base McGuire Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL) located in Burlington County, New Jersey, and participants will be cluster-randomized at the level of the squadron to one of two conditions: the X-CoRe program or a control condition.

Interventions

• Behavioral Junior Enlisted Component
  Junior Enlisted Airmen (E4 and below) will complete 10 online modules designed to train them on recognizing SH and SA, healthy and unhealthy relationships, and situations that may increase risk for SH and SA. Participants will adopt and practice a lifestyle paradigm of select-detect-protect, in which service members select their personal rule to have only healthy (non-abusive) relationships with their peers and romantic partners, detect signs and situations that might threaten their rules, and p
• Behavioral Leadership Component
  Mid- and advanced-level leaders (E5 and above) will complete 10 online modules designed to train them to recognize forms of SH and SA, how to respond to an incident of SH or SA, and how to create a safe work environment free of SH and SA. Leaders will also adopt and practice the paradigm select-detect-protect. Leaders will select their personal rule to enforce a healthy work environment (free of SH and SA), detect signs and situations that might threaten their rule (e.g., displaying inappropriat
• Behavioral Social Marketing Campaign
  All participating Airmen (including Junior Enlisted Airmen and Leaders) will be exposed to X-CoRe's social marketing campaign, which includes posters, flyers, postcards, and digital content for social media. Messages are designed to increase awareness of consent and foster Wing-wide norms that are supportive of healthy relationships. Resources for Service members to receive support if they have experienced SH or SA will also be provided through the social marketing materials. Social marketing ma

Primary outcome measures

• Change in SA victimization as assessed by the Sexual Experiences Survey [Time frame: baseline,6 months follow up, 12 months follow up]
• Change in SH victimization as assessed by the (Sexual Experience Questionnaire (SEQ-DoD) [Time frame: baseline, 6 months follow up, 12 months follow up]

Secondary outcome measures (12)

• Change in knowledge of Sexual Harassment and Assault as assessed by the Knowledge of Sexual Harassment and Assault Scale [Time frame: baseline,6 months follow up, 12 months follow up]
• Change in Rape Myth Acceptance as assessed by the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale -Short Form [Time frame: baseline,6 months follow up, 12 months follow up]
• Change in Gender Role Beliefs as assessed by the Hypergender Ideology Scale -Short Form [Time frame: baseline,6 months follow up, 12 months follow up]
• Change in attitudes towards Sexual Harassment as assessed by the Sexual Harassment Attitude Scale [Time frame: baseline,6 months follow up, 12 months follow up]
• Change in Attitudes towards Relationship Violence as assessed by the Acceptance of Couple Violence Scale [Time frame: baseline,6 months follow up, 12 months follow up]
• Change in Relationships Skills Self-Efficacy as assessed by the Interpersonal competence Questionnaire - Negative assertion subscale [Time frame: baseline,6 months follow up, 12 months follow up]
• Change in Attitudes towards Preventing Sexual Harassment and Assault as assessed by the Attitudes Toward Preventing Dating Violence Subscale [Time frame: baseline,6 months follow up, 12 months follow up]
• Change in Attitudes towards Cyberbullying as assessed by the Harmful Cyberbullying Attitudes Scale [Time frame: baseline,6 months follow up, 12 months follow up]
• Change in attitudes towards Alcohol Use as assessed by the Drinking Values Scale [Time frame: baseline,6 months follow up, 12 months follow up]
• Change in Bystander Self-Efficacy as assessed by the Bystander Efficacy Scale [Time frame: baseline,6 months follow up, 12 months follow up]
• Change in Barriers to Sexual Assault Intervention as assessed by the Barriers to Sexual Assault Bystander Intervention Scale [Time frame: baseline,6 months follow up, 12 months follow up]
• Change in Conflict Communication Skills as assessed by the Conflict Communication Scale - Confrontation Subscale [Time frame: baseline,6 months follow up, 12 months follow up]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Active Duty, stationed at JBMDL
• assigned to one of the 26 Air Force squadrons within the three Air Force Wings at JBMDL (87 Air Base Wing (ABW), 305 Air Mobility Wing (ABM), and 621 Contingency Response Wing (CRW))
• English speaking
• access to an electronic device with internet capabilities

Exclusion criteria

• being in service branches other than Air Force (e.g., Army or Navy)
• Airmen not ranked E1-E4 at JBMDL

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation

Randomized

Model

Parallel assignment

Masking

Open label

Primary purpose

Prevention

Study locations

United States · 1 center

• The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston — Houston

Identifiers

NCT: NCT06101056 · HSC-SPH-23-0619

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗