App to help college students reduce alcohol-related sexual assault risk
Expanding the uSafeUS Mobile App to Reduce Alcohol-Involved Sexual Assault on College Campuses
This project expands a campus safety app to give college students real-time drink tracking and safety messages to help lower the chance of alcohol-related sexual assault.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11144564 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
I am a college student and the team is adding drink-tracking and real-time messaging to the existing uSafeUS safety app so I can get support in the moments alcohol might increase my risk. They will use a user-centered design process with student feedback to build interactive features like an in-app drink tracker, protective-behavior prompts (for example, sharing location or setting an expected return time), and tailored harm-reduction tips. The updated app will be piloted on participating campuses to observe how students use the features and to collect data on usability and acceptability. Results will guide further refinements before wider implementation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are college students who drink alcohol, attend campuses where the uSafeUS app is offered, and own a smartphone.
Not a fit: People who are not college students, do not drink alcohol, lack a smartphone, or require clinical treatment for alcohol dependence are unlikely to benefit from this app.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the app could help students make safer choices in real time and reduce incidents of alcohol-related sexual assault on campus.
How similar studies have performed: Other mobile interventions and the existing uSafeUS app have shown promise for safety planning and harm reduction, but integrating alcohol tracking with sexual-assault prevention in one tool is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- University of Florida — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Scaglione, Nichole M. — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Scaglione, Nichole M.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.