“The Effectiveness Of Sexual Assault Prevention Programs: A Meta-Analysis Of Knowledge, Attitudes, And Bystander Interventions Among Youth And Young Adults”
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53555/jaz.v43i1.5058Keywords:
Sexual assault prevention, youth intervention, bystander education, social norms, sexual aggression, hostility toward women, gender-based violence, knowledge enhancement, attitude change, peer support, sexual violence prevention.Abstract
Background: Sexual assault prevention programs aim to reduce the incidence of sexual violence by increasing awareness, changing attitudes, and promoting bystander intervention. However, the effectiveness of these programs varies across populations and intervention types, necessitating a comprehensive evaluation of their outcomes.
Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted to synthesize the findings of 11 studies on sexual assault prevention programs, examining their impact on knowledge, attitudes toward sexual violence, and bystander behaviors. The studies included a total of 15,640 participants, and effect sizes (Cohen's d) were calculated for each intervention. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic, and publication bias was explored.
Results: The meta-analysis revealed a wide range of effect sizes, with Cohen’s d values ranging from -1.27 to 1.07. Interventions like those by Kettrey & Marx (2019) and Daigneault (2015) demonstrated strong positive effects on knowledge and bystander behavior (Cohen’s d > 1.0). However, substantial heterogeneity was observed (I² = 83.43%), indicating significant variability across studies. Some interventions, such as Flood (2015), reported negative outcomes (Cohen’s d = -1.27), suggesting that certain programs may have unintended consequences. No conclusive evidence of significant publication bias was found.
Conclusions: Sexual assault prevention programs can be effective in increasing knowledge and fostering proactive bystander behavior, but their impact is highly variable. The high level of heterogeneity suggests that interventions must be adapted to specific contexts and populations to be effective. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind both successful and counterproductive outcomes and to refine program delivery for greater efficacy.
Downloads
References
1. Abramsky, T., Devries, K., Kiss, L., Francisco, L., Nakuti, J., Musuya, T., Kyegombe, N., Starmann, E., Kaye, D., Michau, L., & Watts, C. (2012). A community mobilisation intervention to prevent violence against women and reduce HIV/AIDS risk in Kampala, Uganda (the SASA! Study): study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial. Trials, 13(1), 96. https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-6215-13-96
2. Abramsky, T., Devries, K., Kiss, L., Nakuti, J., Kyegombe, N., Starmann, E., Cundill, B., Francisco, L., Kaye, D., Musuya, T., Michau, L., & Watts, C. (2014). Findings from the SASA! Study: a cluster randomized controlled trial to assess the impact of a community mobilization intervention to prevent violence against women and reduce HIV risk in Kampala, Uganda. BMC Medicine, 12(1), 122. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-014-0122-5
3. Banyard, V., Edwards, K. M., & Siebold, W. L. (2017). Involving Community in Sexual Violence Prevention: Engaging Bystanders. In The Wiley Handbook of Violence and Aggression (pp. 1–12). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119057574.whbva122
4. Banyard, V. L., Eckstein, R. P., & Moynihan, M. M. (2010). Sexual Violence Prevention. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 25(1), 111–135. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260508329123
5. Banyard, V. L., Moynihan, M. M., & Plante, E. G. (2007). Sexual violence prevention through bystander education: An experimental evaluation. Journal of Community Psychology, 35(4), 463–481. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.20159
6. Berkowitz, A. D. (2004). (2004). The social norms approach: Theory, research, and annotated bibliography. The Report on Social Norms: Working Paper #12. The Social Norms Approach: Theory, Research, and Annotated Bibliography. The Report on Social Norms: Working Paper #12.
7. Coker, A. L., Bush, H. M., Clear, E. R., Brancato, C. J., & McCauley, H. L. (2020). Bystander Program Effectiveness to Reduce Violence and Violence Acceptance Within Sexual Minority Male and Female High School Students Using a Cluster RCT. Prevention Science, 21(3), 434–444. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-019-01073-7
8. Dagadu, N. A., Barker, K. M., Okello, S. B. T., Kerner, B., Simon, C., Nabembezi, D., & Lundgren, R. I. (2022). Fostering gender equality and reproductive and sexual health among adolescents: results from a quasi-experimental study in Northern Uganda. BMJ Open, 12(3), e053203. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053203
9. Daigneault, I., Hébert, M., McDuff, P., Michaud, F., Vézina-Gagnon, P., Henry, A., & Porter-Vignola, É. (2015). Effectiveness of a sexual assault awareness and prevention workshop for youth: A 3-month follow-up pragmatic cluster randomization study. The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 24(1), 19–30. https://doi.org/10.3138/cjhs.2626
10. Edwards, K. M., Turchik, J. A., Dardis, C. M., Reynolds, N., & Gidycz, C. A. (2011). Rape Myths: History, Individual and Institutional-Level Presence, and Implications for Change. Sex Roles, 65(11–12), 761–773. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-011-9943-2
11. Fabiano, P. M., Perkins, H. W., Berkowitz, A., Linkenbach, J., & Stark, C. (2003). Engaging Men as Social Justice Allies in Ending Violence Against Women: Evidence for a Social Norms Approach. Journal of American College Health, 52(3), 105–112. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448480309595732
12. Flood, M. (2011). Involving Men in Efforts to End Violence Against Women. Men and Masculinities, 14(3), 358–377. https://doi.org/10.1177/1097184X10363995
13. Flood, M. (2015). Work with men to end violence against women: a critical stocktake. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 17(sup2), 159–176. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2015.1070435
14. Haddaway, N. R., Page, M. J., Pritchard, C. C., & McGuinness, L. A. (2022). PRISMA2020 : An R package and Shiny app for producing PRISMA 2020‐compliant flow diagrams, with interactivity for optimised digital transparency and Open Synthesis. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 18(2). https://doi.org/10.1002/cl2.1230
15. Higgins, J. P. T., Altman, D. G., Gotzsche, P. C., Juni, P., Moher, D., Oxman, A. D., Savovic, J., Schulz, K. F., Weeks, L., & Sterne, J. A. C. (2011). The Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials. BMJ, 343(oct18 2), d5928–d5928. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.d5928
16. Kaczkowski, W., Brennan, C. L., & Swartout, K. M. (2017). In good company: Social network diversity may protect men against perpetrating sexual violence. Psychology of Violence, 7(2), 276–285. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0040295
17. Kettrey, H. H., & Marx, R. A. (2019). Does the Gendered Approach of Bystander Programs Matter in the Prevention of Sexual Assault Among Adolescents and College Students? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 48(7), 2037–2053. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-019-01503-1
18. Lim, S., & Howard, R. (1998). Antecedents of sexual and non-sexual aggression in young Singaporean men. Personality and Individual Differences, 25(6), 1163–1182. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(98)00101-9
19. Miller, E., Tancredi, D. J., McCauley, H. L., Decker, M. R., Virata, M. C. D., Anderson, H. A., Stetkevich, N., Brown, E. W., Moideen, F., & Silverman, J. G. (2012a). “Coaching Boys into Men”: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial of a Dating Violence Prevention Program. Journal of Adolescent Health, 51(5), 431–438. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2012.01.018
20. Miller, E., Tancredi, D. J., McCauley, H. L., Decker, M. R., Virata, M. C. D., Anderson, H. A., Stetkevich, N., Brown, E. W., Moideen, F., & Silverman, J. G. (2012b). “Coaching Boys into Men”: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial of a Dating Violence Prevention Program. Journal of Adolescent Health, 51(5), 431–438. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2012.01.018
21. Ybarra, M. L., & Petras, H. (2021a). Groups of Sexual Violence Perpetration in a National Sample of Youth 13–25 Years of Age. Prevention Science, 22(2), 205–215. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-020-01172-w
22. Ybarra, M. L., & Petras, H. (2021b). Groups of Sexual Violence Perpetration in a National Sample of Youth 13–25 Years of Age. Prevention Science, 22(2), 205–215. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-020-01172-w
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2022 Mr. Senthil Thirusangu, Prof. Dr. P. Ahalya, Mr Arul Vendhan
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
