STOP-sexual violence: evaluation of a community-based nightlife worker awareness raising bystander training programme

Abstract

Background Preventing sexual violence in nightlife environments is a pervasive issue across many countries. This study explored the associated impact of a nightlife worker sexual violence awareness raising/bystander training programme (STOP-SV) on trainees’ sexual violence myth acceptance and readiness and confidence to intervene. Methods : Pre- and post-test (n = 118), and 3-month follow-up (n = 38) trainee surveys were implemented across three countries (Czech Republic, Portugal and Spain). Paired-sample tests examined changes across time-periods in participants’ myth acceptance (e.g. unwanted sexual advances are a normal part of a night out), and readiness and confidence to intervene. Multi-nominal regression was used to examine the relationship between the change in pre-to-post-training scores and trainee characteristics. Results Compared to pre-training, post-training participants were significantly (P < 0.01) less likely to agree with sexual violence myths, and more likely to be ready and confident to intervene. In bi-variate and multi-variate analyses, we found no significant associations between the change in pre-to-post-training scores and trainee characteristics. Analyses of the small follow-up sub-sample illustrated some positive changes at the post-training and follow-up time-periods (i.e. reduction in sexual violence myth acceptance). Conclusion This exploratory study suggests that the STOP-SV training programme was associated with a decrease in trainees’ acceptance of sexual violence myths, and an increase in their readiness and confidence to intervene. Our findings support the case for further implementation and evaluation of awareness raising/bystander programmes for nightlife workers that aim to prevent and respond to sexual violence.

Evaluation of the good night out campaign: a sexual violence bystander training programme for nightlife workers in England

“…The implementation of such programmes to prevent sexual violence has developed in recent years (Fenton et al 2016), and extended from implementation in educational establishments to other community settings where sexual violence is a key concern (Gainsbury et al 2020). More recently, sexual violence bystander training programmes for nightlife workers have been piloted in the USA (Powers and Leili 2018), Europe (Quigg et al 2021) and New Zealand (RespectEd Aotearoa 2021). Our exploratory study adds to this emergent literature, and to our knowledge is the first UK study to examine the effectiveness of a sexual violence bystander programme implemented in the nightlife setting.…”

“…Due to data collection time constraints, the study used a shortened version of a non-validated tool used in a previous evaluation of a sexual violence bystander programme for nightlife workers (piloted across European nightlife settings in 2016/17 [Quigg et al 2021]). The original tool aimed to measure three core concepts: sexual violence myth acceptance, and readiness and confidence to intervene in sexual violence, and was developed based on existing sexual violence scales, with items altered to reflect the nightlife setting and European context.…”

“…Whilst nightlife-related sexual violence can be experienced by all, the existing evidence demonstrates a clear sex divide with men most likely to be perpetrators and women most likely to be victims (Gunby et al 2020;Quigg et al 2020). Critically, evidence suggests that sexual violence within the night-time economy has been normalised; sexualised comments, groping and other forms of sexual violence and harassment have become key features of the lived experiences within nightlife spaces for many young adults (Christmas and Seymour 2014;Gunby et al 2020;Nicholls 2017;Quigg et al 2020Quigg et al , 2021.…”

“…Building on existing evidence highlighting the potential of bystander training programmes in preventing sexual violence (Banyard et al 2007;Burn 2009;Cares et al 2014;Fenton et al 2016), in recent years, such programmes have started to emerge across various nightlife settings (e.g. USA [Powers and Leili 2018]; Europe [Quigg et al 2021]; New Zealand, [RespectEd Aotearoa 2021]). Whilst programme evaluation is scarce, recent evaluations of programmes implemented in the USA and Europe have found significant reductions in sexual violence myth acceptance, and an increased willingness and confidence to intervene amongst nightlife workers (Powers and Leili 2018;Quigg et al 2021).…”

“…USA [Powers and Leili 2018]; Europe [Quigg et al 2021]; New Zealand, [RespectEd Aotearoa 2021]). Whilst programme evaluation is scarce, recent evaluations of programmes implemented in the USA and Europe have found significant reductions in sexual violence myth acceptance, and an increased willingness and confidence to intervene amongst nightlife workers (Powers and Leili 2018;Quigg et al 2021). However, further research is needed to understand the impact that such programmes can have in addressing the normalisation of sexual violence within nightlife, across programmes, nightlife settings and different countries.…”