Examining Peer Influences in Alcohol and Sexual Violence among Marines Using a Dyadic Multimethod Approach

PROJECT ABSTRACT The overarching goal of this R01 is to obtain an event-level understanding of the role of alcohol and peer interpersonal behavior in sexual violence perpetration among Marine men. Rates of heavy episodic drinking and military sexual assault are high in the military, and highest among Marines. Alcohol is involved in 21-80% of sexual violence incidents among servicewomen and 14-56% of incidents among servicemen. Perceived peer norms and interpersonal interactions are key predictors of alcohol use and alcohol-involved sexual violence perpetration (ASVP) among civilians; however, it is unclear if these risk factors operate similarly in military populations. Peers in the US Marine Corps are unique and exert powerful influence on adaptive behaviors and attitudes and more negative health behaviors such as alcohol misuse. The proposed multi-method project, implemented by an experienced team of investigators, will simultaneously address several major and persistent gaps in knowledge. First, we will obtain an event-level understanding of the effects of one’s own and peer alcohol use, and the role of alcohol in ASVP norms on ASVP intentions in the US Marine Corps by integrating findings from in vivo and in vitro assessment methods. Second, this study will examine and assess the individual and peer effects of in-the-moment encouragement and discouragement on ASVP behaviors in an experimental paradigm. We will accomplish this by leveraging innovative dyadic approaches employed among civilian dyads, thereby elucidating peer influences on ASVP among men in the US Marine Corps. The proposed study will recruit pairs of enlisted men currently serving in the US Marine Corps who engaged in heavy episodic drinking at least twice together in the past month. Dyads will complete ecological momentary assessments about their own and perceived peer alcohol use and ASVP intentions twice daily for 14 days. The study will also compare modifiable risk effects of peer influence acceptance of ASVP intentions and behaviors in vivo and in vitro settings. This project is directly aligned with NOT-AA-22-001, NOT-OD-22-167, and NIAAA’s strategic goals.