Evaluation of a sexual assault prevention program

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Criminology

Background:

• Sexual assault remains a significant issue on college campuses.
• Effective prevention programs are crucial for student safety.
• Understanding risk factors and protective measures is vital.

Purpose of the Study:

• To empirically evaluate the effectiveness of a specific sexual assault prevention program.
• To assess the program's impact on sexual assault incidence among female college students.
• To determine differential effects based on prior sexual assault history.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental design was employed with 360 female college students.
• Participants were assigned to either a treatment group (n=181) or a control group (n=165).
• Data collection likely involved surveys assessing sexual assault history, behaviors, and knowledge.

Main Results:

• The prevention program was effective in reducing sexual assault incidence for women without a prior sexual assault history.
• No significant reduction in sexual assault incidence was observed for women with a prior sexual assault history.
• The treatment group showed a decrease in dating behaviors associated with acquaintance rape.
• The treatment group demonstrated increased knowledge about sexual assault.

Conclusions:

• The sexual assault prevention program shows promise for specific populations, particularly those without a prior history.
• Findings suggest the need for tailored prevention strategies based on individual risk factors.
• The program's impact on behavioral and knowledge-based outcomes warrants further investigation for broader application.