Psychology

Predicting Improvement After a Bystander Program for the Prevention of Sexual and Dating Violence

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Although evidence suggests that bystander prevention programs are promising interventions for decreasing sexual violence and dating violence on college campuses, there have been no studies to date evaluating moderators of bystander program effectiveness. The current study evaluates whether different demographic characteristics, attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors at pretest predict change over a 6-month follow-up for students who participated in a bystander prevention program. Participants in the three assessments (pretest, posttest, 6-month follow-up) included 296 college students who were mandated to attend a bystander program during their first year orientation. Analyses showed that with few exceptions, the bystander program worked best for students who were most at risk given their pretest demographics and levels of attitudes condoning dating violence and sexual violence, bystander efficacy, and bystander behaviors. Results are discussed in terms of suggestions for future research.

Publication Title

Health Promotion Practice

Publication Date

2015

Volume

16

Issue

4

First Page

550

Last Page

559

ISSN

1524-8399

DOI

10.1177/1524839914557031

Keywords

bystander effect, domestic violence, partner violence, prevention, sexual assault

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