Preventing sexual violence among high school students through norms correction and bystander intervention: A school‐based cluster trial of Your Voice Your View

Abstract

AbstractRisk for sexual violence begins early in the lifespan; thus, interventions are needed to decrease the risk for sexual violence among high school youth. The current study evaluates the Your Voice Your View (YVYV) sexual violence prevention program using a school‐based cluster trial among 26 high schools in the Northeastern United States. YVYV, includes: 1) a series of four classroom workshops designed to engage students as allies in violence prevention through bystander intervention skills training, address risks for sexual aggression, and reduce risk for victimization; 2) a Lunch and Learn teacher training workshop; and 3) a 4‐week social norms poster campaign based on normative data from the school. Schools were matched based on size and demographics and randomly assigned to the intervention group or a wait‐list control group. A sample of 2685 10th grade students enrolled in the research and completed assessments at baseline, 2‐month and 6‐month follow‐up periods. The magnitude of the difference in sexual aggression did not vary by condition at either follow‐up period. The magnitude of 6‐month differences in experiencing unwanted sexual intercourse varied significantly by condition (IRR = 0.33 [0.14–0.76]), demonstrating a small protective effect favoring intervention schools (Cohen's f2 = 0.012). These findings highlight the promise of multicomponent interventions grounded in bystander intervention skills training, risk reduction, and social norms theory as a promising, comprehensive approach for sexual violence prevention among youth.