A systematic review and meta-analysis of bystander intervention programs for intimate partner violence and sexual assault.

Abstract

Objective: A situational model of bystander behavior (SMBB) can explain the steps that a bystander takes when intervening in a situation of intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual assaults—awareness, definition, responsibility, bystander efficacy, and action to intervene. The present study examined the effectiveness of existing bystander intervention programs based on the steps of the SMBB. Method: Overall, 136 separated measured outcomes from 33 studies were systematically searched. The separated outcomes were allocated into five domains based on the SMBB and three more domains for those outcomes that could not be allocated based on the model: (a) awareness, (b) definition, (c) empathy for victims, (d) responsibility, (e) bystander efficacy, (f) gender norms/attitudes, (g) intention to intervene, and (h) action to intervene. They were analyzed through meta-analysis. Results: The bystander intervention programs were effective with a small-to-medium effect size (ES). The programs significantly affected seven out of eight outcome domains. Among the domains, definition was improved the most, followed by intention to intervene, bystander efficacy, responsibility, action to intervene, awareness, and gender norms/attitudes. The programs targeting both genders showed higher impact than those targeting either males or females. Adults were affected more than did adolescents by the programs. Traditional offline methods, virtual reality, and web-based methods significantly improved the outcomes, while videos did not. Conclusions: Our findings are beneficial for specifying and expanding the SMBB to develop detailed bystander interventions. Political efforts to enact laws against IPV and sexual assaults are essential.

Sexual Violence in Virtual Reality

“…Five relevant reviews were identified, each offering unique and important direct and peripheral contributions to the state of the science surrounding sexual violence and harassment in VR and broader gaming environments (Henry & Powell, 2018; Moor & Anderson, 2019; Park & Kim, 2023; Patel & Roesch, 2022; Xue et al, 2021). These are briefly summarized, from oldest to newest.…”

“…Park and Kim (2023) took a different approach to evaluate effectiveness of bystander interventions targeting interpersonal violence and sexual assault, by identifying studies aiming to achieve behavioral outcomes irrespective of the mode of intervention delivery. Thirty-five studies were reviewed, and 135 outcome measures were categorized into eight domain outcomes and compared across studies.…”

Quantifying College Students’ Bystander Behavior to Prevent Sexual Assault and Intimate Partner Violence: Can We Make Improvements?

“…It is interesting to think about the implications of the current findings for past research using breadth scores of bystander behavior. For example, meta-analytic reviews indicate that bystander training programs influence IHE students’ bystander behavior, but the effect sizes are small (Jouriles et al, 2018; Katz & Moore, 2013; Kettrey & Marx, 2019; Park & Kim, 2023). However, the studies reviewed in these prior meta-analyses, by and large, did not consider opportunity to engage in bystander behavior, and quantified bystander behavior using breadth scores.…”

“…Such actions, referred to as bystander behavior, include noticing situations that are either violent or suggest risk for violence (e.g., a friend boasting about sexual conquests, a friend grabbing their partner) and intervening in these situations. Meta-analyses indicate that IHE students who participate in bystander intervention programs, compared to those who do not, engage in higher levels of bystander behavior (Jouriles et al, 2018; Katz & Moore, 2003; Kettrey & Marx, 2019; Park & Kim, 2023). Thus, bystander intervention programs offer promise in helping IHEs reduce sexual assault and IPV.…”

Scripts for consensual sex as risk factors for sexual aggression: A three-wave longitudinal study with university students in Germany

“…66,67 Recent years have seen a rapid growth of programs for promoting bystander interventions. 68 Changing patterns of sexuality-related cognitions and behavior is an important task for preempting situations in which bystanders might have to intervene to stop potential perpetrators and protect potential victims.…”