Changing attitudes about being a bystander to violence: Translating an in-person sexual violence prevention program to a new campus

Alison C. Cares, Assumption College
Victoria Banyard, University of New Hampshire
Mary M. Moynihan, University of New Hampshire - Main Campus
Linda M. Williams, University of New Hampshire - Main Campus
Sharyn J. Potter, University of New Hampshire
Jane G. Stapleton, University of New Hampshire

Abstract

Bystander approaches to reducing sexual violence train community members in prosocial roles to interrupt situations with risk of sexual violence and be supportive community allies after an assault. This study employs a true experimental design to evaluate the effectiveness of Bringing in the Bystander™ through 1-year post-implementation with first-year students from two universities (one rural, primarily residential; one urban, heavily commuter). We found significant change in bystander attitudes for male and female student program participants compared with the control group on both campuses, although the pattern of change depended on the combination of gender and campus.