Engaging campus communities in sexual violence prevention: A randomized-control trial of a bystander intervention program

Campus sexual assault is well documented as a major public health issue. Researchers estimate that 19- 25% of women and 6% of men report experiences of attempted or completed sexual assaults since entering college, with a multitude of  negative impacts on survivor’s health and well-being. One approach for sexual assault prevention is bystander intervention, which shifts the focus on victims and perpetrators to the role of community members, suggesting that these members can intervene when faced with situations involving sexual violence (before, during, or after the assault). 

A number of questions remain about the best ways to deliver bystander education and what dosage is sufficient to produce both attitudinal and behavioral change.  This paper uses a longitudinal, experimental design to compare exposure to one or three sessions of a peer education theater program, SCREAM Theater, and its impact on a range of bystander-related outcomes in situations involving sexual violence.

A survey was administered to assess a number of outcomes, including rape myth beliefs, bystander attitudes, bystander behaviors, perpetration and victimization.  A total of 663 participants completed surveys across three waves and are analyzed in this paper.

Results indicate after the first dose, male students’ bystander intentions and beliefs about friend norms increased while female students’ scores did not change.  After receiving the additional doses, the experimental three dose group had significantly greater bystander intentions relative to the one dose control group.  A number of implications for educators and researchers involved in delivering sexual violence prevention will be discussed.