Effects of a Rape Awareness Program on College Women: Increasing Bystander Efficacy and Willingness to Intervene

• NCJ Number: 253632
• Journal: Journal of Community Psychology Volume: 38 Issue: 7 Dated: 2010 Pages: 813-827
• Date Published: 2010
• Author(s): John D. Foubert; Jennifer Langhinrichsen-Roohling; Hope Brasfield; Brent Hill
• Length: 25 pages
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Program/Project Evaluation; Program/Project Description

Annotation

This study evaluated the efficacy of a sexual assault risk-reduction program on 279 college women who were instructed in the characteristics of male perpetrators of sexual assault and bystander intervention techniques.

Abstract

After seeing The Women's Program, participants reported significantly greater bystander efficacy and significantly greater willingness to help than before seeing the program. Participants outperformed a control group. Rape myth acceptance also declined among program participants. Implications for rape awareness programming are discussed.

(Publisher abstract modified.)