Using social networks to help sexual assault survivors reduce drinking
Official title: Leveraging Social Networks to Promote Sexual Assault Recovery and Reduce Drinking to Cope through a Web-Based Intervention
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11138316 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating an online program to help college women who have experienced sexual assault by encouraging their friends, especially in sororities, to offer support without relying on alcohol, and it will also look at how friendships can affect this support.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $75,600 |
| NIH project number | 3K08AA028546-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11138316 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are college women who have experienced sexual assault and are part of social networks where heavy drinking is common.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced sexual assault or are not engaged in social networks with heavy drinking norms may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a web-based intervention aimed at supporting sexual assault survivors, particularly college women, within their social networks, such as sororities. The intervention seeks to promote supportive behaviors that are not associated with heavy drinking, thereby helping survivors cope with distress without resorting to alcohol. The project will involve collaboration with community stakeholders to create the intervention, followed by a pilot trial to test its feasibility and effectiveness. Additionally, the research will explore how social network characteristics influence the adoption of these supportive behaviors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide sexual assault survivors with effective support mechanisms that reduce their reliance on alcohol for coping.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that interventions leveraging social networks can be effective in promoting healthier behaviors, suggesting potential success for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jaffe, Anna E. — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Jaffe, Anna E.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Making genetic testing more accessible to the public
This study is all about making it easier for people at risk of certain cancers, like breast, ovarian, and colon cancers, to get genetic testing, so we can find out what helps them access these important services and understand how they can benefit from them.
-
Breast cancer diagnosis in low-resource settings using millifluidics and fast digital imaging in Ghana
A new project will test a fast, low-cost way to diagnose breast cancer at the point of care in Ghana using small-batch fluidics and direct digital imaging.
-
Binaural Hearing and Speech in Noise in Children
This project explores how children hear speech in noisy classrooms using how the two ears work together to see if binaural processing differences explain why some kids struggle more than others.
-
Neural circuits that control pain aversion in the brain
Researchers are exploring how a specific brain area helps people feel and avoid pain, with potential to lead to better pain treatments.
-
United World Antiviral Research Network (UWARN)
A collaborative, international effort is testing new virus surveillance and evolution ideas to help people living with HIV and communities in LMICs stay safer from current and emerging viruses.
-
HF endotypes in heart failure using ethical multi-modal AI and molecular data
A patient-friendly project that uses advanced AI and multiple kinds of health data to identify distinct heart failure subtypes that could guide personalized care.
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.