Impact of an app-based early intervention for survivors of recent sexual assault on social functioning outcomes

Abstract

Many survivors of sexual assault experience both psychological effects and problems with social functioning. App-based interventions are a promising means to extend the reach of early interventions and, thereby, reduce the risk of psychopathology, but their impact on social functioning is unknown. This is an analysis of secondary social functioning outcomes from a pilot randomized clinical trial of a coached app-based early intervention (THRIVE) for survivors of unwanted sexual contact that occurred within the last 10 weeks. The THRIVE app involved daily cognitive behavioral activities targeting posttraumatic stress and alcohol misuse and as-needed relationally focused exercises; weekly phone coaching supported app use. Adult women (N = 41) with past-10-week unwanted sexual contact and elevated posttraumatic stress and heavy drinking were randomized to receive either the THRIVE app or a symptom monitoring app. Participants were invited to use their respective app daily for 21 days and attend weekly coaching calls. Self-report assessments tracked changes in outcomes from baseline to postintervention and 3-month follow-up. Relative to participants in the control condition, those in the intervention condition showed larger increases in perceived support from friends, d = 0.85, and decreases in conformity drinking motives, d = -0.81, at 3-month follow-up. The results suggest that THRIVE may be a promising strategy to improve social functioning in sexual assault survivors. Future research on THRIVE should examine the mechanisms of these changes.