Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable

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

180 participantsStarted 2027-03-30

Plain-language 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. Identity Exchange Group with Exposure to Sexual Harassment: Participants embodied their partner's identity in a VR harassment scenario. 2. Identity Exchange Group without Harassment Exposure: Participants embodied their partner's identity in a neutral VR scenario. 3. Third-person Observer Group: Participants observe a harassment scenario in VR from their own perspective. Participants will: 1. Attend one virtual reality session in a laboratory setting. 2. Undergo pre- and post-intervention assessments and a three-month follow-up. 3. Complete self-report questionnaires and physiological measures (eye tracking and pupillometry). 4. 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.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 39 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * 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. Exclusion Criteria: * 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.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Change in Empathy Scores (Interpersonal Reactivity Index - IRI)

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

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06839937

SponsorUniversitat Oberta de Catalunya

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-03-30

Contact for this trial

Adrián Montesano, Doctor

+34625624172 amontesano@uoc.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Sexual Harassment trials