Concurrent administration of sexual assault prevention and risk reduction programming: Outcomes for women.

A sexual violence risk reduction program for college resulted in several positive outcomes among college women, but was not associated with reduced risk of victimization.

Summary: The study is based on a two-pronged approach to sexual violence prevention consisting of implementing the Ohio University Sexual Assault Risk Reduction Program (OUSARRP) for college women while concurrently conducting a sexual violence prevention program for college men. First-year residence halls were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. Women in the intervention program received the 7-hour OUSARRP which addressed barriers to resistance and self-defense training. Women in the control group residence halls completed questionnaires and were offered the opportunity to participate in the risk reduction program after completing the study. Women in the intervention group reported more relational assertiveness, self-protective behavior, and self-defense strategies compared to those in the control group. There were no group differences in self-reported experiences of any sexual victimization.  The authors recommended providing risk reduction programming within the context of wider systematic interventions to reduce sexual violence on college campuses.

Application/Evaluation: The study examined the effectiveness of the Ohio University Sexual Assault Risk Reduction Program for college women. Evaluation findings were provided for 4 and 7 months post-intervention.

Limitations: Only 60% of the students living in the selected resident halls participated in the study.  It was not determined whether the sample participants (650 women) represented all students living in those settings.

 

Author: 
Gidycz, C. A., Orchowski, L. M., Probst, D. R., Edwards, K. M., Murphy, M., & Tansill, E.
Start Page: 
780
End Page: 
800
Journal/Periodical Name: 
Violence Against Women
Volume: 
21
Publication Date: 
2015