Determining the Proximal and Temporal Effects of Alcohol and Sexual Communication on Intimate Partner Sexual Violence among Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Couples

Up to 33% of people report experiencing intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV). Yet, little research has examined proximal and temporal predictors of IPSV among couples. The impetus for this project is to address four critical gaps in the current scientific evidence base on IPSV: (1) the role of alcohol in IPSV, both as a predictor and an outcome, has been largely overlooked in research despite alcohol being a contributing cause and consequence of non-sexual partner violence, (2) most research on IPSV is cross-sectional, which prevents identification of causal predictors, (3) current research on IPSV fails to take into account dyadic associations (e.g., effects of each partner's alcohol use, how each partner communicates consent and refusal), and (4) there are no empirically supported theoretical models of IPSV. Using rigorous experimental and intensive longitudinal designs—the goal standard for establishing proximal and temporal relationships—the overall objective of this proposal is to determine the effect of alcohol and communication (i.e., consent and refusal) on IPSV, which will inform an etiological model for IPSV. The aims of proposal are to (1) examine the effects of one's own and one's partner's acute alcohol use and partner communication refusal (indirect verbal vs. direct verbal) on laboratory IPSV perpetration (Aim 1) and (2) examine the effects of event-level alcohol use and communication (indirect vs direct, verbal vs non-verbal) on IPSV perpetration over time (Aim 2). Across two studies, 440 couples with a history of partner violence and heavy drinking will be recruited. In Study 1, using a couple- level 4x2 design with 240 couples (n = 480 participants), couples will be separately block- randomized into eight experimental conditions corresponding to: (1) one of four couple-level beverage conditions (alcohol/alcohol, alcohol/no-alcohol, no-alcohol/alcohol, no-alcohol/no-alcohol for Actor/Partner) and (2) one of two couple-level partner sexual communication conditions (direct/indirect refusal), and then complete validated laboratory paradigm for IPSV perpetration ostensibly against their partner. In Study 2, 200 couples (n = 400 participants) will complete 26 weekly assessments measuring alcohol use, communication (indirect/direct, verbal/nonverbal) and IPSV for each day of the prior week. This proposal will inform etiological models of the association between individual and contextual factors for intimate partner violence perpetration over time. In doing so, this project will offer valuable insights that can inform future interventions aimed at reducing IPSV.