Assessing a comprehensive approach to prevent sexual violence on campus: Implications for program improvement
<strong>Background:</strong> On college campuses, sexual violence (or sexual assault) is at epidemic proportions. As many as one in four college women experience sexual assaults, most of which are not reported, likely due to the adverse reactions stemming from social norms and attitudes...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Georgia Southern University
2017-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/jgpha/vol6/iss4/4 |
| _version_ | 1818607011784294400 |
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| author | Chinwe Ejikeme Kia Powell-Threets Mosi Bayo Kia Toddle Jean O'Connor |
| author_facet | Chinwe Ejikeme Kia Powell-Threets Mosi Bayo Kia Toddle Jean O'Connor |
| author_sort | Chinwe Ejikeme |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <strong>Background:</strong> On college campuses, sexual violence (or sexual assault) is at epidemic proportions. As many as one in four college women experience sexual assaults, most of which are not reported, likely due to the adverse reactions stemming from social norms and attitudes about rape. To prevent sexual violence on college campuses, the multi-level factors influencing it necessitate implementation of a holistic approach channeled at all levels. The present multi-method study assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of a peer educator (PE)-facilitated program implemented as part of a comprehensive sexual assault prevention program in three small Georgia colleges.
<strong> Methods:</strong> Student participants (N=128) were questioned on their attitude toward rape myths, intention to rape, and likelihood to intervene in a potential rape situation. Paired t-tests for pre-/post-test scores assessed statistical differences in mean levels of outcomes at the data collection points. In addition, a qualitative assessment explored the feasibility of implementing, on campus, a long-duration program for prevention of sexual violence.
<strong>Results:</strong> The findings indicated that, after exposure to the program, participants demonstrated decreased rape myth beliefs and intention to commit rape and an increased likelihood to intervene in a potential rape situation. In addition, apart from attaining regular student attendance in the 10-week sessions of the program, implementation of the “One on Four & Beyond” program proved to be feasible.
<strong>Conclusions:</strong> This preliminary, multi-approach study suggests the effectiveness of a school PE-facilitated prevention program as a component of a comprehensive approach in reducing sexual violence on campus. Future studies are necessary to enhance understanding of the impact of the program. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T14:19:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c60de19a692e498bbee4f8c4478fac5f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2471-9773 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T14:19:58Z |
| publishDate | 2017-10-01 |
| publisher | Georgia Southern University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association |
| spelling | doaj.art-c60de19a692e498bbee4f8c4478fac5f2022-12-21T22:28:31ZengGeorgia Southern UniversityJournal of the Georgia Public Health Association2471-97732017-10-016410.21633/jgpha.6.404Assessing a comprehensive approach to prevent sexual violence on campus: Implications for program improvementChinwe EjikemeKia Powell-ThreetsMosi BayoKia ToddleJean O'Connor<strong>Background:</strong> On college campuses, sexual violence (or sexual assault) is at epidemic proportions. As many as one in four college women experience sexual assaults, most of which are not reported, likely due to the adverse reactions stemming from social norms and attitudes about rape. To prevent sexual violence on college campuses, the multi-level factors influencing it necessitate implementation of a holistic approach channeled at all levels. The present multi-method study assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of a peer educator (PE)-facilitated program implemented as part of a comprehensive sexual assault prevention program in three small Georgia colleges. <strong> Methods:</strong> Student participants (N=128) were questioned on their attitude toward rape myths, intention to rape, and likelihood to intervene in a potential rape situation. Paired t-tests for pre-/post-test scores assessed statistical differences in mean levels of outcomes at the data collection points. In addition, a qualitative assessment explored the feasibility of implementing, on campus, a long-duration program for prevention of sexual violence. <strong>Results:</strong> The findings indicated that, after exposure to the program, participants demonstrated decreased rape myth beliefs and intention to commit rape and an increased likelihood to intervene in a potential rape situation. In addition, apart from attaining regular student attendance in the 10-week sessions of the program, implementation of the “One on Four & Beyond” program proved to be feasible. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> This preliminary, multi-approach study suggests the effectiveness of a school PE-facilitated prevention program as a component of a comprehensive approach in reducing sexual violence on campus. Future studies are necessary to enhance understanding of the impact of the program.https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/jgpha/vol6/iss4/4sexual violence; sexual assault; peer facilitator; sexual assault prevention program; college campuses; comprehensive approach; mixed method evaluation approach |
| spellingShingle | Chinwe Ejikeme Kia Powell-Threets Mosi Bayo Kia Toddle Jean O'Connor Assessing a comprehensive approach to prevent sexual violence on campus: Implications for program improvement Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association sexual violence; sexual assault; peer facilitator; sexual assault prevention program; college campuses; comprehensive approach; mixed method evaluation approach |
| title | Assessing a comprehensive approach to prevent sexual violence on campus: Implications for program improvement |
| title_full | Assessing a comprehensive approach to prevent sexual violence on campus: Implications for program improvement |
| title_fullStr | Assessing a comprehensive approach to prevent sexual violence on campus: Implications for program improvement |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing a comprehensive approach to prevent sexual violence on campus: Implications for program improvement |
| title_short | Assessing a comprehensive approach to prevent sexual violence on campus: Implications for program improvement |
| title_sort | assessing a comprehensive approach to prevent sexual violence on campus implications for program improvement |
| topic | sexual violence; sexual assault; peer facilitator; sexual assault prevention program; college campuses; comprehensive approach; mixed method evaluation approach |
| url | https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/jgpha/vol6/iss4/4 |
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