Sexual Violence Prevention: A Universal Intervention Approach to Yield Outcomes of Bystander Action and Sexual Consent
Datum
2020-09-24
Autor:innen
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University of Oregon
Zusammenfassung
Sexual violence is a far too common occurrence among undergraduate college students, with approximately 26% of women, 7% of men, and 23% of transgender or gender-nonconforming students reporting non-consensual sexual contact during their time in college. Experiences of sexual violence are associated with consequences of sexual risk-taking, mental health concerns, and academic hardships. Extant bystander action interventions, though based on promising practices to prevent sexual violence among college students, have not measured outcomes of sexual consent, an equally important focus. The current study aimed to measure to what extent a peer-facilitator-led, small-group, universal bystander action intervention targeting first-year college students (i.e., Get Explicit 101) is associated with changes in understanding of what constitutes sexual consent, intentions to request and respect sexual consent (sexual consent intentions), and intentions to intervene when witnessing potential sexual violence (bystander action intentions). The current study also evaluated changes in sexual consent and bystander action intentions as a function of gender and past experience with sexual consent and bystander action behaviors. Research questions were explored using data gathered from a sample of 3,397 college students who completed assessments immediately prior to (pretest) and following (posttest) the intervention. Hypothesized increases in sexual consent intentions were evident from pretest to posttest, though there were not differences between males and females on this outcome. There were, however, gender differences on bystander action intentions, with males showing a greater change in intentions following the intervention, consistent with hypotheses. Finally, there were mixed findings regarding hypothesized increases in understanding of sexual consent and the influence of past behavioral experience on sexual consent and bystander action intentions following intervention. Overall, findings tentatively suggest participation in Get Explicit 101 may contribute to an increase in prosocial sexual consent intentions for first year college students and men may show greater gains in terms of bystander action intentions, though causal associations cannot be conclusively established in the absence of a comparison group. Implications for campus prevention practitioners and future research are discussed.
Beschreibung
Schlagwörter
bystander action, bystander intervention, college students, sexual assault, sexual consent, sexual violence prevention