Evaluation of a sexual assault prevention program.

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to empirically evaluate a sexual assault prevention program. Of the 360 female college students who participated in the investigation, 181 students were in the treatment group and 165 students were in the control group. Although the program was not effective in decreasing the incidence of sexual assault for women with a sexual assault history, it was effective in decreasing the incidence of sexual assault for women without a sexual assault history. The program also led to a decrease in dating behaviors found to be associated with acquaintance rape and an increase in knowledge about sexual assault for the treatment group. The implications of these results for future preventive efforts are discussed.

Sexual assault prevention programs Current issues, future directions, and the potential efficacy of interventions with women

“…All subjects were then required to return at the end of the academic quarter and complete a series of outcome measures. Hanson and Gidycz (1993) were able to demonstrate a statistically significant decrease in the rates of sexual assault over a 9-week period among college women who did not report a prior history of sexual victimization. They also found that the intervention was effective in increasing knowledge regarding sexual assault and altering dating behaviors that have been shown to be highly correlated with rape.…”

“…The program developed by Hanson and Gidycz (1993) has been the most successful to date. Despite the "clinical lore" which often suggests that selfdefense tactics are the most effective strategies for women to learn, no prospective studies, without self-selected samples, have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy of such interventions.…”

“…The videotape highlighted several contextual variables known to be highly correlated with sexual victimization (e.g., alcohol use, nonassertive behavior, and difficulties with sexual communication). After presentation of the videotape, Hanson and Gidycz (1993) asked the participants several questions regarding possible behaviors that might have helped the character in the video avoid the acquaintance rape. Subsequent to this discussion, subjects viewed an additional videotape that demonstrated possible response strategies for dealing with the risky dating situation.…”

Evaluation of Navy Counseling and Advocacy Programs: Relating Programs to Readiness and Retention

“…Specifically, Hanson and Gidycz (1993) found that a sexual assault prevention program reduced the incidence of sexual assault among women who had not been previously victimized. The program was not effective, however, in reducing the incidence of sexual assault among women who had been previously victimized.…”

“…Similarly, in two separate studies, women who had experienced sexual victimization were assigned to a control or a treatment condition. Both conditions consisted of a single session providing information regarding the prevalence of sexual assault on college campuses, reviewing situational risk factors for sexual assault, and discussing protective behaviors (Breitenbecher & Gidycz, 1998;Hanson & Gidycz, 1993). Breitenbecher and Gidycz (1998) also provided participants with information on the role of psychological effects of an initial victimization experience in putting women at increased risk for revictimization.…”