Understanding how emotions and alcohol affect perceptions of sexual assault risk
Official title: Assessing State Emotions and Acute Alcohol Intoxication on Sexual Assault Risk Perception
Funded at University of Rhode Island · NIH-10876926 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how drinking alcohol and different feelings can change how college women see the risk of sexual assault, to help understand what might make someone more vulnerable in those situations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rhode Island NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kingston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $48,974 |
| NIH project number | 5F31AA031164-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10876926 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation are undergraduate women aged 21 and older who consume alcohol.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not consume alcohol or are under the age of 21 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how acute alcohol intoxication and emotional states influence the perception of sexual assault risk among undergraduate women. Participants will be assigned to either consume alcohol or not, and will experience different emotional inductions (positive, negative, or neutral) during the study. The researchers will measure both subjective feelings and objective physiological responses, such as heart rate and skin conductance, to understand how these factors interact and affect risk perception. The goal is to identify critical emotional and cognitive processes that may contribute to the risk of sexual assault in intoxicated individuals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved prevention strategies and educational programs aimed at reducing sexual assault risk among college students.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been research on alcohol's effects on risk perception, this study uniquely explores the interplay of emotional states and intoxication, making it a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kiefer, Reina — University of Rhode Island
- Study coordinator: Kiefer, Reina
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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.