A Virtual Reality Couples' Intervention for Sexual Victimization Prevention: a Gender-swapping Transformative Approach

NCT06839937 | Not Yet Recruiting DMC

• 2 other identifiers: MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033PID2022-141198OB-I00
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 180
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of REVISE (REalidad Virtual Inmersiva y SExualidad), an immersive virtual reality (IVR) intervention designed to promote empathy and reduce sexual harassment behaviors in heterosexual cisgender men. The main questions that this study aims to answer are as follows. Does experiencing gender swapping in IVR increase empathy towards survivors of sexual harassment? Does the intervention modify attitudes toward gender roles and sexual harassment? Researchers will compare the three experimental groups to evaluate the effects of IVR:

1. 1.Identity Exchange Group with Exposure to Sexual Harassment: Participants embodied their partner's identity in a VR harassment scenario.
2. 2.Identity Exchange Group without Harassment Exposure: Participants embodied their partner's identity in a neutral VR scenario.
3. 3.Third-person Observer Group: Participants observe a harassment scenario in VR from their own perspective.
4. 4.Attend one virtual reality session in a laboratory setting.
5. 5.Undergo pre- and post-intervention assessments and a three-month follow-up.
6. 6.Complete self-report questionnaires and physiological measures (eye tracking and pupillometry).
7. 7.Participate in semi-structured interviews about their experiences. This study aims to explore how immersive VR embodiment can be used as a tool for gender violence prevention by fostering perspective-taking and behavioral change.

Conditions

Sexual Harassment; Gender Based Violence; Empathy; Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy

Keywords

Sexual Harassment; Gender-Based Violence; Immersive Virtual Reality; Violence Prevention; Sexism; VR Intervention; Violence Against Woman

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Empathy Scores (Interpersonal Reactivity Index - IRI)

  Empathy will be assessed using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), a validated self-report measure that evaluates different components of empathy, including perspective-taking and empathic concern. The IRI consists of 28 items, each rated on a 5-point Likert scale (0 = Does not describe me well to 4 = Describes me very well). The total score ranged from 0 to 112, with higher scores indicating greater levels of empathy. Cronbach's alpha ranged from .68 to .80. Participants will complete the IRI at baseline (pre-intervention), immediately post-intervention, and at a three-month follow-up to assess changes over time. Higher scores indicate greater empathy levels.

  Baseline, immediately post-intervention, 3-month follow-up

Secondary Outcomes (10)

• Change in Gender Role Attitudes (Ambivalent Sexism Inventory - ASI)

  Baseline, immediately post-intervention, 3-month follow-up

• Change in Communication Patterns (Communication Patterns Questionnaire - CPQ)

  Baseline, immediately post-intervention, 3-month follow-up

• Change in Relationship Satisfaction (Dyadic Adjustment Scale - DAS)

  Baseline, immediately post-intervention, 3-month follow-up

• Change in Couple Flourishing (Couple Flourishing Measure - CFM)

  Baseline, immediately post-intervention, 3-month follow-up

• Change in Acceptance of Modern Myths about Sexual Aggression (AMMSA Scale)

  Baseline, immediately post-intervention, 3-month follow-up

Study Arms (3)

Identity Exchange with Exposure to Sexual Harassment

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will experience a virtual reality (VR) perspective-taking intervention in which they embody their female partner's avatar in a scenario depicting sexual harassment. This immersive experience aims to enhance empathy and reduce the acceptance of sexual harassment. Physiological responses (eye tracking and pupillometry) will be recorded, and participants will complete pre- and post-intervention self-reports.

Behavioral: REVISE - Virtual Reality Gender-Swap with Harassment Exposure

Identity Exchange without Harassment Exposure

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will embody their female partner's avatar in a neutral VR scenario without any harassment. This condition serves to evaluate the effects of identity exchange alone, without exposure to gender-based violence, on empathy and gender attitudes. Pre- and post-intervention assessments and physiological measures will be collected.

Behavioral: REVISE - Virtual Reality Gender-Swap without Harassment

Third-Person Observer Condition

NO INTERVENTION

Participants will observe a VR scenario depicting sexual harassment from a third-person perspective, without experiencing identity exchange. This condition acts as a control to determine whether passive observation differs from immersive perspective-taking in modifying attitudes toward gender-based violence. Self-reports and physiological responses will be also analyzed.

Interventions

REVISE - Virtual Reality Gender-Swap with Harassment Exposure BEHAVIORAL

Participants will embody a virtual avatar of their female partner in a sexual harassment scenario using full-body tracking, and identity exchange in virtual reality (VR). The goal is to assess whether experiencing harassment from a first-person perspective increases empathy and decreases tolerance toward sexual harassment.

Identity Exchange with Exposure to Sexual Harassment

REVISE - Virtual Reality Gender-Swap without Harassment BEHAVIORAL

Participants will embody a virtual avatar of their female partner in a neutral social interaction scenario using VR-based identity exchange. This condition controls for the effect of perspective-taking alone, without exposure to harassment, to evaluate its impact on empathy and gender attitudes.

Identity Exchange without Harassment Exposure

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 39 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: This study is open to heterosexual cisgender couples, where the male partner identifies as cisgender man and the female partner identifies as cisgender woman. Both partners must be in a romantic relationship at the time of participation. Individuals who identify as non-binary, transgender, or gender non-conforming are not eligible for this study, as the intervention specifically focuses on gender-based perspective-taking between cisgender men and women.
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Participants must be between 18 and 39 years old.
• Couples must have been in a romantic relationship for at least six months.
• Both partners must provide explicit informed consent to participate.
• Participants must be able to read and write in Spanish to ensure comprehension of the study materials.

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals with any physical condition that may hinder the use of VR equipment (e.g., epilepsy or severe motion sickness).
• Individuals with a history of sexual harassment or problematic substance use, including drug or alcohol abuse.
• Individuals experiencing significant mental health difficulties that require intensive treatment.
• Participants with prior exposure to similar VR-based gender perspective-taking interventions.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universitat Oberta de Catalunya: lead
• Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Spain: collaborator
• European Social Fund: collaborator

Related Publications (11)

• Carvalho J, Rosa PJ, Pereira B. Dynamic Risk Factors Characterizing Aggressive Sexual Initiation by Female College Students. J Interpers Violence. 2021 Mar;36(5-6):2455-2477. doi: 10.1177/0886260518760010. Epub 2018 Mar 5.

  PMID: 29502500 BACKGROUND

• Hollett RC, Rogers SL, Florido P, Mosdell B. Body Gaze as a Marker of Sexual Objectification: A New Scale for Pervasive Gaze and Gaze Provocation Behaviors in Heterosexual Women and Men. Arch Sex Behav. 2022 Aug;51(6):2759-2780. doi: 10.1007/s10508-022-02290-y. Epub 2022 Mar 29.

  PMID: 35348918 BACKGROUND

• Bradley MM, Lang PJ. Measuring emotion: the Self-Assessment Manikin and the Semantic Differential. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 1994 Mar;25(1):49-59. doi: 10.1016/0005-7916(94)90063-9.

  PMID: 7962581 BACKGROUND

• Ventura S, Cardenas G, Miragall M, Riva G, Banos R. How Does It Feel to Be a Woman Victim of Sexual Harassment? The Effect of 360 degrees -Video-Based Virtual Reality on Empathy and Related Variables. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2021 Apr;24(4):258-266. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2020.0209. Epub 2020 Oct 20.

  PMID: 33085513 BACKGROUND

• Jouriles EN, McDonald R, Kullowatz A, Rosenfield D, Gomez GS, Cuevas A. Can virtual reality increase the realism of role plays used to teach college women sexual coercion and rape-resistance skills? Behav Ther. 2009 Dec;40(4):337-45. doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2008.09.002. Epub 2008 Oct 31.

  PMID: 19892079 BACKGROUND

• Riva G, Banos RM, Botella C, Mantovani F, Gaggioli A. Transforming Experience: The Potential of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality for Enhancing Personal and Clinical Change. Front Psychiatry. 2016 Sep 30;7:164. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2016.00164. eCollection 2016.

  PMID: 27746747 BACKGROUND

• Maister L, Slater M, Sanchez-Vives MV, Tsakiris M. Changing bodies changes minds: owning another body affects social cognition. Trends Cogn Sci. 2015 Jan;19(1):6-12. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2014.11.001. Epub 2014 Dec 15.

  PMID: 25524273 BACKGROUND

• Dobbin F, Kalev A. The promise and peril of sexual harassment programs. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 Jun 18;116(25):12255-12260. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1818477116. Epub 2019 Jun 3.

  PMID: 31160444 BACKGROUND

• DeGue S, Valle LA, Holt MK, Massetti GM, Matjasko JL, Tharp AT. A systematic review of primary prevention strategies for sexual violence perpetration. Aggress Violent Behav. 2014 Jul-Aug;19(4):346-362. doi: 10.1016/j.avb.2014.05.004.

  PMID: 29606897 BACKGROUND

• Gunarathne L, Bhowmik J, Apputhurai P, Nedeljkovic M. Factors and consequences associated with intimate partner violence against women in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review. PLoS One. 2023 Nov 8;18(11):e0293295. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293295. eCollection 2023.

  PMID: 37939106 BACKGROUND

• Tourne Garcia M, Herrero Velazquez S, Garriga Puerto A. [Health consequences of violence against women by the couple]. Aten Primaria. 2024 Nov;56(11):102903. doi: 10.1016/j.aprim.2024.102903. Epub 2024 Mar 27. Spanish.

  PMID: 38538482 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Sexual Harassment; Sexism

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Sexual Behavior; Behavior; Social Behavior; Prejudice; Social Discrimination

Central Study Contacts

Adrián Montesano, Doctor

CONTACT

+34625624172; amontesano@uoc.edu

Pablo Vallejo Medina, Doctor

CONTACT

+34613028333; pvallejom@uoc.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor and Principal Investigator

Model Details: Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three independent intervention groups: 1. Identity Exchange with Exposure to Sexual Harassment: Male participants will embody their female partner's avatar in a VR harassment scenario. 2. Identity Exchange without Harassment Exposure: Male participants will embody their female partner's avatar in a neutral VR scenario. 3. Third-person Observer Condition: Male participants will observe a harassment scenario in VR without identity exchange. Each participant remains in their assigned condition throughout the study, and comparisons are made between groups based on empathy, gender attitudes, and harassment-related responses.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 5, 2025
• First Posted: February 21, 2025
• Study Start (Estimated): March 30, 2027
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 30, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 30, 2027
• Last Updated: March 23, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share