An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Sexual Assault Education Program Focusing on Psychological Barriers to Resistance

Abstract

The purpose of the present investigation was to empirically evaluate the effectiveness of a sexual assault education program. Participants in this study included 94 college women who were randomly assigned to either the treatment group or control group. Early in the academic year, all women responded to survey instruments assessing history of sexual victimization, general knowledge about sexual assault, dating behaviors, sexual communication, perception of risk for experiencing sexual aggression, resistance strategy, self-blame, disclosure of the experience, and reporting of the assault to the police or campus security. At the time of the initial session, women in the treatment group also participated in a 90-minute sexual assault education program focusing on psychological barriers to resistance. Participants in both groups returned for a 7-month follow-up session and responded to survey instruments again. Results indicate that the sexual assault education program was unsuccessful in influencing any of the outcome variables.