Predictors of Sexual Assault–Specific Prosocial Bystander Behavior and Intentions

Austin, M. Jill; Dardis, Christina M.; Wilson, Milo; Gidycz, Christine A.; Berkowitz, Alan D.

doi:10.1177/1077801215597790

Cited by 43 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 28 publications

(52 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The broader preponderance of evidence, mostly among adult populations and largely at the community level, suggest that negative gender norms, especially related to accepting norms supporting violence against women, are associated with higher levels of both physical and sexual violence against women [25–27]. Furthermore, many sexual and physical violence prevention programs, especially those aimed at men, include a norms-changing component aimed at supporting pro-social behavior, and ultimately, social transformation [28, 29].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and risk factors for sexual assault among class 6 female students in unplanned settlements of Nairobi, Kenya: Baseline analysis from the IMPower & Sources of Strength cluster randomized controlled trial

Baiocchi¹,

Friedberg²,

Rosenman³

et al. 2019

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Gender-based violence (GBV) is a crucial global health problem among all age groups, including adolescents. This study describes incidences of GBV, as well as factors associated with sexual assault, among female adolescents in class six living in urban informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya. Methods Study participants were interviewed using a structured survey instrument focusing on experiences of GBV, including emotional, physical, and sexual violence, and corresponding perpetrators, as well as gender attitudes, alcohol use, self-efficacy, and previous sexual experiences. Summary statistics and clustered bootstrap confidence intervals were calculated for social behaviors and violence rates. Stepwise logistic regression identified variables associated with an adolescent’s experience of sexual assault. Findings In this population 7·2% of adolescent girls reported being raped in the prior twelve months, with 11·1% of these rape victims reporting over five experiences. Among the 21·3% who report having had a boyfriend, 38·1% reported emotional, physical, and/or sexual intimate partner violence (IPV). Boyfriends were identified most often as perpetrators, accounting for 46·3% of reported lifetime rapes. Previous experience of physical (p = <0·001) or emotional (p<0·001) IPV and home violence (p<0·001) were risk factors for being raped, while high self-efficacy (p<0·001) was a protective factor. Interpretation Sexual assault and GBV are major challenges in this highly-disadvantaged population. Novel prevention efforts are needed for this age group, as prevention is often targeted at older adolescents. Prevention efforts should focus on assaults by perpetrators known to adolescents, especially boyfriends, and may need to account for the adolescents’ previous experience of, and exposure to, violence.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and risk factors for sexual assault among class 6 female students in unplanned settlements of Nairobi, Kenya: Baseline analysis from the IMPower & Sources of Strength cluster randomized controlled trial

Baiocchi¹,

Friedberg²,

Rosenman³

et al. 2019

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In a second study, they found that higher peer norms supporting helping was related to fewer missed opportunities to intervene (Hoxmeier et al, 2020). Murphy Austin and colleagues (2016) found that while perceptions of peer helping norms somewhat predicted actual helping behavior, the individual’s own beliefs and attitudes more robustly predicted helping than peer norms. Peer helping norms are clearly influencing some aspects of helping behavior; however, the inconsistent nature of the relationship warrants a closer consideration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…The findings on peer norms’ influence on actual helping behaviors in SV contexts specifically are mixed (Austin, Dardis, Wilson, Gidycz, & Berkowitz, 2016; Banyard & Moynihan, 2011; Brown et al, 2014; Hoxmeier, Acock, & Flay, 2020; Hoxmeier, Flay, & Acock, 2018). Banyard and Moynihan (2011) found that perceptions of higher peer norms supporting coercion were, surprisingly, related to greater actual helping behaviors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Community and Peer Perceptions Promote College Students’ Pro-Social Bystander Actions to Prevent Sexual Violence

Banyard

Bencosme

Cares

et al. 2018

J Interpers Violence

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The prevalence of sexual violence crimes on U.S. college campuses is prompting institutions of higher education to increasingly invest in centers to support survivors and programs to prevent the violence before it happens. Understanding bystanders to sexual violence and what may motivate them to step in and help is a promising prevention strategy. The purpose of this study was to understand how potential active bystanders' (first-year college students) perceptions of community (including a sense of one's influence in the community and positive peer norms for helping) and individual beliefs about self (including sense of responsibility and self-efficacy) affect their self-reports of performing bystander behavior to address sexual violence risks. Participants were 948 students at two different universities (one a rural, primarily residential campus and the other an urban, mostly commuter campus) in the northeastern United States. Regression and path analysis quantitative results suggest that individual-level characteristics may mediate some of the impact that community-level norms and perceptions have on bystander outcomes, explaining some of the mixed findings in previous research. Prevention strategies should work to change community norms and perceptions of mattering and perceptions of community influence in addition to the more traditional focus on individual-level violence specific attitudes.

show abstract

“…A number of evaluations of bystander programming efforts related to sexual violence measure the willingness to intervene, or behavioral intent, as an outcome, whereas fewer studies measure the impact of programs on an individual's self-reported bystander behavior. However, relying on measurement of behavioral intent as proxy for behavior is not sufficient in the field of sexual violence (Murphy Austin, Dardis, Wilson, Gidycz, & Berkowitz, 2016). An individual's willingness to intervene does not necessarily mean the person intervenes, due to a number of factors, such as not knowing what to do or fear of making the situation worse (Burn, 2009;Bennett, Banyard & Garnhart, 2013;McMahon & Dick, 2011).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Measuring Bystander Behavior in the Context of Sexual Violence Prevention: Lessons Learned and New Directions

McMahon

Palmer

Banyard

et al. 2015

J Interpers Violence

Self Cite

101

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Bystander intervention is receiving increased attention as a potential sexual violence prevention strategy, especially to address campus sexual assault. Rather than focusing on potential perpetrators or victims, the bystander approach engages all members of a community to take action. A growing body of evaluative work demonstrates that bystander intervention education programs yield increased positive attitudes and behaviors related to sexual violence and greater willingness to intervene in pro-social ways. Future program outcome studies, however, would benefit from more refined measures of bystander action as it is a key variable that prevention education programs attempt to influence. The purpose of the current article is to present key issues, identified by four different research teams, on the measurement of bystander behavior related to sexual violence in the context of college campuses. Comparisons among the methods are made to suggest both lessons learned and new directions for bystander behavior measurement using self-report surveys in program evaluation.

show abstract

Predictors of Sexual Assault–Specific Prosocial Bystander Behavior and Intentions

Cited by 43 publications

References 28 publications

Prevalence and risk factors for sexual assault among class 6 female students in unplanned settlements of Nairobi, Kenya: Baseline analysis from the IMPower & Sources of Strength cluster randomized controlled trial

Prevalence and risk factors for sexual assault among class 6 female students in unplanned settlements of Nairobi, Kenya: Baseline analysis from the IMPower & Sources of Strength cluster randomized controlled trial

How Community and Peer Perceptions Promote College Students’ Pro-Social Bystander Actions to Prevent Sexual Violence

Measuring Bystander Behavior in the Context of Sexual Violence Prevention: Lessons Learned and New Directions

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About