Positive Change for Sailors

The purpose of the project is to test the Positive Change© for Sailors program through a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT). The objective is to assess feasibility and examine preliminary differences in behavioral, perceived norms, and attitudes/self-efficacy outcomes using baseline, post-program, and 3-month follow-up assessments in a pilot RCT. Feasibility of Positive Change© for Sailors will be assessed through successful recruitment and retention of 75% of the sample. Feasibility will also be measured through time spent on each component. Preliminary efficacy will be assessed via changes in primary outcome measures. Primary outcome measures include changes in behavior (frequency of alcohol use, sexual assault victimization, sexual assault perpetration, and bystander intervention), perceived norms (alcohol use and sexual assault), and related attitudes/self-efficacy outcomes. It is hypothesized that Positive Change© for Sailors will be deemed feasible and show preliminary efficacy in a pilot RCT of 120 Sailors randomly assigned to either the Positive Change© for Sailors program or an assessment-only control condition. While the primary expected outcomes of the pilot RCT pertain to feasibility and the study is not powered to conduct formal hypothesis testing, preliminary analyses will be performed to assess trends and relative group changes. Exploratory analyses will evaluate trends of changes in perceived norms for alcohol use and sexual assault as a potential mechanism of change (mediator) of behavioral and attitudinal changes. Exploratory analyses will also examine the role of prior history of sexual victimization/aggression as a moderator of behavioral and attitudinal changes.