Increasing bystander behavior to prevent adolescent relationship violence: A randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

The present research reports a randomized controlled trial evaluating TakeCARE, a video bystander program designed to help prevent relationship and sexual violence among high school students. High school students (n = 165) were randomly assigned to view TakeCARE or a control video. Students completed self-report measures of bystander behavior and bystander self-efficacy before viewing the videos. One week later, students completed the self-efficacy measure and were observed in virtual reality simulations of situations that offered opportunities to engage in bystander behavior. Measures were readministered at a 6-month follow-up. Compared to students who viewed the control video, students who viewed TakeCARE self-reported more bystander behavior at the 6-month follow-up. They were also observed to engage in greater levels of bystander behavior in the virtual reality simulations at postintervention and 6-month follow-up. Self-efficacy partially mediated this effect on observed bystander behavior. Video bystander programs like TakeCARE might be an effective addition to high school efforts to prevent relationship and sexual violence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).