Violence against women is a serious public health problem. Young women are disproportionately assaulted? or raped by men indicating a need for effective and innovative prevention programs. A newly emerging trend? in the violence against women (VAW) prevention field is the design of programs that move beyond targeting? individual characteristics only or male perpetrators only by addressing the broader context in which violence? against women occurs. This type of environmental approach acknowledges that the vast majority of young? men does not engage in violence, but rather comprises a culture where normative influences contribute to? the victimization of women. The proposed study will seek to develop and test an innovative prevention? program designed to have an impact on VAW by targeting young men and focusing on affecting personal as? well as environmental influences. The program will be guided by empirical research and social cognitive? theory and will incorporate a social norms approach. Specifically, the program will attempt to dispel? misperceptions regarding normative beliefs and behaviors related to VAW while enhancing the knowledge? and skills necessary for engaging in behaviors that reduce risk for women. The program will be adapted for a? Web-based modality. There are two primary goals (1) to prevent psychologically, physically, and sexually? abusive behaviors toward women, and (2) to increase the """"""""intervening"""""""" behaviors that reduce risk for VAW? perpetration (e.g., express disapproval when a peer is verbally disparaging toward women; attempt to stop a? peer who tries to be coercive/abusive). These primary goals will be achieved by affecting theoretically and? empirically derived mediators such as: correcting misperceptions in normative beliefs, attitudes, and? behaviors, increasing knowledge of the elements constituting informed consent to have sex, increasing? knowledge of legal definitions of assault, enhancing communication skills, and increasing empathy for female? victims. The program will incorporate web-based activities designed to modify these theoretical and empirical? constructs. The program will be tested for its efficacy by using a randomized controlled design implemented? among a randomly selected sample of 680 male college students. Study outcomes to be assessed will be? the psychological, physical, and sexual perpetration of women and intervening behaviors. These outcomes? will be assessed via web-administered interviews at baseline, postintervention, and at 6 months.
| Salazar, Laura F; Vivolo-Kantor, Alana; Hardin, James et al. (2014) A web-based sexual violence bystander intervention for male college students: randomized controlled trial. J Med Internet Res 16:e203 |
| Devi, Reena; Powell, John; Singh, Sally (2014) A web-based program improves physical activity outcomes in a primary care angina population: randomized controlled trial. J Med Internet Res 16:e186 |
