"I learned that I am worth defending": A process evaluation of a sexual assault prevention program implemented on an...

A great deal of programming has been developed to prevent sexual assault (SA) among adolescents. Few studies examine programming implementation among minority groups and present information about program acceptability among participants and community stakeholders. The purpose of the current study was to examine the acceptability of implementing an empowerment SA self-defense program for adolescent girls on an Indian reservation. Data for the study came from posttest surveys of Native American adolescent girls who participated in an SA prevention program (N = 102) and interviews with community stakeholders, including program participants (N = 18). Results showed that acceptability was high among program participants and community stakeholders. Program participants noted that they liked the program overall and liked components of the programming. Participants noted that they disliked pressure to participate, program length, and missing class. Among community stakeholders, all expressed an overall positive impression of the program, felt that the program had a positive impact on program participants, and appreciated that girls learned to use refusal skills. Community stakeholders provided several programming improvement ideas such as incorporating culturally specific content into the program for future implementation. These findings can be used by other researchers, schools, and practitioners implementing prevention programs with Native American girls.