Understanding how alcohol and how couples talk about consent affect intimate partner sexual violence
Official title: Determining the Proximal and Temporal Effects of Alcohol and Sexual Communication on Intimate Partner Sexual Violence among Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Couples
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11638544 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies how alcohol use and how partners communicate about consent influence intimate partner sexual violence among sexual minority and heterosexual couples.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 20, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $86,634 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AA031666-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11638544 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults in romantic partnerships (across sexual minority and heterosexual couples) who are able to participate in laboratory discussions and daily monitoring.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not in a dating or cohabiting relationship or unable to participate in daily monitoring or laboratory tasks may not benefit.
What this research studies
The study uses rigorous daily and laboratory methods to look at how each partner’s drinking and the way they discuss consent relate to IPSV. Researchers will examine both immediate (proximal) and over-time (temporal) effects of alcohol use and communication on IPSV incidents in couples. The goal is to build an etiological model that explains how these factors interact to contribute to IPSV and identify potential points for prevention. The work combines controlled laboratory discussions and intensive longitudinal data to capture real-life dynamics between partners.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform prevention strategies and interventions to reduce IPSV by addressing alcohol use and communication patterns within relationships.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has established links between alcohol use and partner violence, but this project adds dyadic and temporal depth to understand IPSV mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Leone, Ruschelle Marie — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Leone, Ruschelle Marie
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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.