Sexual Abuse Prevention Research Articles

Efectividad de una intervención escolar parala prevención del abuso sexual infantil

(analytical)Child sexual abuse prevention programs that focus on developing self-protective behaviors among children are highly significant as they address potential psychosocial impacts and the prevalence of sexual violence. There is also scientific evidence that supports their effectiveness. A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 57 sixth-grade students to evaluate an intervention that involved educational workshops on the topics of sexual and reproductive rights, self-awareness, boundary setting and identifying dangerous situations. The Prudence Test was employed to verify the intervention'seffect. A significant difference was found between the different groups (U = 805.000, p < .001; rbis = 0.983) and between pre- and post-intervention measures (W = 1.500, p < .001, rbis = -0.992) within the experimental group. These findings confirm the effectiveness of the intervention. Keywords: Childhood; sexual abuse; prevention; child protection; school intervention.

The Impact of Violent Pornography on Sexual Coercive Behaviors Among College Men: A Prospective Examination.

Sexual coercion is a widespread public health concern, especially among college students, and is associated with a multitude of negative consequences for survivors. Prior studies document an association between exposure to violent pornography and engagement in sexual coercion among men, although longitudinal examination of this association is largely absent. Using a prospective design, the current study examined how exposure to violent pornography relates to increased engagement in sexually coercive behaviors among college men over time. It was hypothesized that increased exposure to violent pornography would be associated with higher levels of gender inequitable attitudes, higher rape myth acceptance, greater problems with alcohol use, lower recognition of rape scenarios as rape, greater ascription of responsibility to the woman in instances of rape, and lower ascription of responsibility toward the man in instances of rape, all of which in turn would predict greater engagement in sexually coercive behavior over time. Data was collected from 247 college men who completed self-report surveys at baseline, 4-month, and 7-month intervals. Higher gender inequitable attitudes, greater problems with alcohol use, and lower levels of responsibility assigned to men for rape mediated the relation between exposure to violent pornography at baseline and endorsement of sexually coercive behavior at the 7-month. Findings highlight the need to address pornography literacy in sexual assault prevention programs for college men.

Campus sexual assault prevention education tailored to men proves more effective

Providing education about campus sexual assault that's tailored specifically to male students can prove to be more effective, according to a recent study.

Relationships and sex education in special schools: highlighting the need for safeguarding for children with learning disabilities

ABSTRACT Sex education is a key aspect of safeguarding, particularly for children with learning disabilities who are significantly more at risk of sexual abuse. To contribute to research in the field of sex education of children with learning disabilities, we examined teachers’ perceptions of how Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education programmes are taught in Special Schools and to what extent children can be supported through these programmes. This small-scale study involved in-depth interviews with five special school teachers in England. Thematic analysis identified two main themes: the first theme covered key aspects of sex education and included the subtopics of delivering sex education; the age for receiving sex education; the place of receiving sex education; and the person who delivers sex education. The second theme was that of protection and prevention, with the subtopics of age for receiving sexual abuse prevention programmes; programmes, and how to better protect children with learning disabilities from sexual abuse. Study findings highlight ways in which schools can strengthen their practices, with the goal of supporting children with learning disabilities to protect themselves from abuse as well as offering a foundation for further research and resource development.

Collaborative Governance in Prevention and Control of Sexual Abuse in Local Level

The rising incidence of sexual violence against children and women in Tasikmalaya City has become a pressing concern, with reported cases increasing from 58 in 2021 to 73 in 2022. In response, the Tasikmalaya City Government has initiated collaborative efforts involving local non-governmental organizations (Puspa), psychologists, and law enforcement agencies to combat this alarming trend. This study aims to critically analyze the effectiveness of these multi-stakeholder collaborations in preventing and addressing sexual violence in the region. Grounded in the collaborative governance theory articulated by Ansell and Gash, the research employs qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews with key stakeholders and data analysis facilitated by NVivo 12+. An initial bibliometric review of relevant literature through the Scopus database, supplemented by VOSViewer, helped identify research gaps in the domain of sexual violence prevention. The findings reveal significant shortcomings in the collaborative framework currently employed, notably in areas such as stakeholder dialogue, mutual trust, commitment levels, role clarity, and overall outcomes. These deficiencies underscore the necessity for a more structured approach to collaboration that encompasses all stages of program planning and implementation. The study provides actionable recommendations aimed at enhancing stakeholder collaboration, ultimately striving to reduce the prevalence of sexual violence and improve protective measures for vulnerable populations in Tasikmalaya City. This research not only contributes to the academic discourse on collaborative governance but also holds significant implications for policy-making and community interventions aimed at safeguarding children and women.Peningkatan kasus kekerasan seksual terhadap anak-anak dan perempuan di Kota Tasikmalaya menjadi perhatian serius, dengan jumlah kasus yang dilaporkan meningkat dari 58 pada tahun 2021 menjadi 73 pada tahun 2022. Menanggapi hal ini, Pemerintah Kota Tasikmalaya telah memulai upaya kolaboratif yang melibatkan organisasi non-pemerintah lokal (Puspa), psikolog, dan lembaga penegak hukum untuk mengatasi tren yang mengkhawatirkan ini. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis secara kritis efektivitas kolaborasi multi-pemangku kepentingan dalam pencegahan dan penanganan kekerasan seksual di daerah tersebut. Berdasarkan teori tata kelola kolaboratif yang diungkapkan oleh Ansell dan Gash, penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif, termasuk wawancara mendalam dengan pemangku kepentingan kunci dan analisis data yang difasilitasi oleh NVivo 12+. Tinjauan bibliometrik awal terhadap literatur yang relevan melalui basis data Scopus, dilengkapi dengan VOSViewer, membantu mengidentifikasi celah penelitian dalam domain pencegahan kekerasan seksual. Temuan menunjukkan adanya kekurangan yang signifikan dalam kerangka kolaborasi yang saat ini diterapkan, terutama dalam aspek dialog antar pemangku kepentingan, kepercayaan timbal balik, tingkat komitmen, kejelasan peran, dan hasil secara keseluruhan. Defisiensi ini menyoroti perlunya pendekatan kolaborasi yang lebih terstruktur yang mencakup semua tahapan perencanaan dan pelaksanaan program. Penelitian ini memberikan rekomendasi yang dapat ditindaklanjuti yang bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kolaborasi antar pemangku kepentingan, yang pada akhirnya berusaha mengurangi prevalensi kekerasan seksual dan meningkatkan langkah-langkah perlindungan bagi populasi rentan di Kota Tasikmalaya. Penelitian ini tidak hanya berkontribusi pada wacana akademik tentang tata kelola kolaboratif, tetapi juga memiliki implikasi signifikan bagi pembuatan kebijakan dan intervensi komunitas yang bertujuan untuk melindungi anak-anak dan perempuan.

Short-Term Outcomes of a Healthy Relationship Intervention for the Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault in the US Military: Pilot Pretest-Postest Study.

Sexual harassment (SH) and sexual assault (SA) are serious public health problems among US service members. Few SH and SA prevention interventions have been developed exclusively for the military. Code of Respect (X-CoRe) is an innovative web-based, multilevel, SA and SH intervention designed exclusively for the active-duty Air Force. The program's goal is to increase Airmen's knowledge and skills to build and maintain respectful relationships, ultimately reducing SH and SA and enhancing Airmen's overall well-being and mission readiness. This pilot study aimed to assess the short-term psychosocial impact (eg, knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy) of the web-based component of X-CoRe on a sample of junior enlisted and midlevel Airmen. Airmen from a military installation located in the Northeastern United States were recruited to complete the 10 web-based modules in X-CoRe (9/15, 60% male; 7/15, 54% aged 30-35 years). Participants were given pretests and posttests to measure short-term psychosocial outcomes associated with SH and SA. Descriptive statistics and paired 2-tailed t tests were conducted to assess differences from preintervention to postintervention time points. After completing X-CoRe, participants had a significantly greater understanding of active consent (P=.04), confidence in their healthy relationship skills (P=.045), and confidence to intervene as bystanders (P=.01). Although not statistically significant (P>.05), mean scores in attitudes about SH, couple violence, and cyberbullying; perceptions of sexual misconduct as part of military life; and relationship skills self-efficacy with a romantic partner and friend also improved. The findings from this study demonstrate X-CoRe's effectiveness in improving critical determinants of SH and SA, making it a promising intervention for SH and SA prevention. More rigorous research is needed to determine X-CoRe's impact on SH and SA victimization and the long-term impact on associated psychosocial determinants.

Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Prevention Programming During the Pandemic: How Prevention Educators Navigated COVID-19

Abstract Purpose Domestic violence and sexual assault (DVSA) primary prevention programming is often implemented during the school year, but the delivery of such programming was radically altered during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic when traditional in-person classrooms were often replaced by virtual learning. The immediate issue facing schools was getting academic content to students in this new environment, but there has been little research into what those priorities meant for supplementary programming like DVSA prevention education. How DVSA prevention education was affected by the switch to virtual learning remains largely unknown, but prevention educators’ experiences navigating virtual learning environments can offer insight into the implementation and delivery of virtual programming by community agencies. Method We conducted 20 interviews with DVSA prevention educators across the midwestern region of the United States. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to understand how DVSA prevention programming was impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results We identified four themes through our analysis: Disconnection, New Expectations, Reduced Access, and Safety Concerns. Interviews with prevention educators highlighted the many challenges of delivering DVSA prevention programming online, as well as ways that they adapted and even made improvements in this new environment. Conclusion Many students lost access to DVSA prevention education during the COVID-19 pandemic or received a version strongly impacted by social distancing protocols. Findings indicate that students who would have received DVSA prevention programming during the 2020–2021 school year likely did not receive the full dose of intended programming. Curriculum researchers should develop programming suitable for remote delivery for future incidental and fully online learning environments.

Prevention of sexual exploitation of children in sport clubs and social work in Switzerland

Abstract The Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified in 1989, provides a clear normative basis for the protection of children from violence, abuse and exploitation. Despite efforts to protect children, many children and young people are victims of sexual violence. In the extracurricular sector, clubs offer great potential for preventing sexual exploitation. However, obstacles such as the taboo nature of the topic and the clubs’ limited resources make it difficult to develop and independently implement specific prevention offers. The aim of the project was to record the activities and competencies of sports clubs, youth associations and other youth organizations in the area of prevention of sexual assault among children and adolescents in the leisure sector and to determine the need for prevention services in the canton of Zurich in Switzerland. In addition, information was obtained on the impact of existing prevention services as well as information on their further development in terms of content and organization. Together, 979 participants from sports clubs, youth associations and youth organizations (e.g. board members, coaches, leaders) as well as the parents of children who are members of these clubs were surveyed. An impact model was developed for systematic modeling, as proposed by “Health Promotion Switzerland”. The prevention of sexualized violence is seen as a very relevant topic by sports clubs, youth associations, open child and youth work and parents. However, the current implementation of prevention measures also shows that there are still barriers to implementation and room for improvement in prevention work. Participants from all areas would particularly like support with advice on how to deal with suspected cases/incidents, the provision of information materials and the creation of a protection concept. Specific ideas for the further development of prevention work were also generated and will be discussed. Key messages • The prevention of sexualized violence is seen as a very relevant topic by sports clubs, youth associations, open child and youth work and parents. • The study reveals that prevention measures are only partially implemented and identifies barriers and facilitators for improvement.

Characteristics of Dating Intoxicated Sexual Assault and Crime Prevention

Dating drunken sexual assault cases have certain peculiarities and complexities involving interpersonal interactions in which the perpetrator and the victim mutually construct the situation. By analyzing both the misunderstanding and misalignment of sexual concepts and the influence of alcohol on sexual consent involved in two typical cases, it then analyzes the crime prevention problems in dating drunken sexual assault cases and puts forward effective crime prevention proposals with a view to better preventing the occurrence of such crimes.

Child Sexual Abuse and Boundary Violating Behaviors in Youth Serving Organizations: National Prevalence and Distribution by Organizational Type.

Many youth serving organizations (YSOs) implement child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention strategies. We examined the potential impact of those strategies by retrospectively estimating the prevalence of CSA and boundary violating behaviors experienced in five broad organizational settings: organized sports, religious organizations, music or arts programs, K-12 schools, and the "Big 6 settings" (i.e., 4-H, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the USA, and the YMCA of the USA). We compared victimization rates between nationally representative cohorts of younger adults (age 18-22; N = 3174) and slightly older adults (age 32-36, N = 3237). Across all participants and settings, 3.75% (n = 363) experienced CSA in YSOs. Among survivors, younger adults reported experiencing a lower proportion of CSA within Big 6 settings than older adults (29.1% vs. 44.5%; p < .05), suggesting that prevention efforts may be having the desired effects in Big 6 settings.

Sexual Victimization and Sexually Transmitted Infections Among a Nationally Representative Sample of Adolescents and Young Adults in Haiti.

Sexual assault victims are at major risk of being infected by sexually transmitted infections (STI). This article aims to examine and compare the prevalence of eight STIs (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS, human papillomavirus) among victims and non-victims of sexual abuse. A national cross-sectional study was conducted in Haiti, using a multistage sampling frame, stratified by geographical department, urban or rural setting, gender, and age groups (15-19 and 20-24years). The final sample included 3586 household participants (47.6% female). A weighted sample of 3945 individuals was obtained and used in the following analyses. Overall, 21.75% (95% CI 19.91-23.59) of participants reported having been diagnosed with at least one STI in their lifetime, with a higher prevalence among men (25.70%; 95% CI 22.89-28.52), compared to women (18.11%; 95% CI 15.73-20.49), χ2 = 16.43; p < 0.001). Sexual abuse victims were more likely to report STIs (31.27%; 95% CI 29.21-33.34), compared to non-victims (18.40%; 95% CI 16.68-20.13), χ2 = 27.89; p < .001. Sexual abuse was associated to an increased risk of contracting at least one STI (OR = 1.74; 95% CI 1.35, 2.24). The results demonstrate that sexual abuse is associated with a general increase of reporting STIs. They indicate the need for national sexual abuse prevention programs at early ages. These programs should be implemented in schools and churches, focusing on the role of families in sexuality education. Finally, programs must be developed to eradicate community violence-especially in the cities-as increased political and social violence has always been associated with increased sexual abuse in Haiti.

Preliminary Efficacy of Positive Change(+Change): A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of an Integrated Alcohol and Sexual Assault Prevention Program Tailored by Gender and Sexual Orientation.

The current study presents preliminary efficacy findings of a pilot randomized controlled trial of Positive Change© (+Change© ). +Change© utilizes personalized normative feedback to target alcohol use, sexual assault (SA) victimization, SA perpetration, and bystander intervention tailored for heterosexual cisgender men, heterosexual cisgender women, and sexual and gender-minoritized (SGM) groups. Participants included 165 undergraduate students aged 18 to 25 years old from a large public university in the Southwestern U.S. who engaged in past month heavy episodic drinking. Participants (57 cisgender heterosexual men; 54 cisgender heterosexual women; and 54 SGM) were randomized to +Change© (n = 83) or an assessment-only control (n = 82) and completed surveys online at baseline and 3-month follow-up in a parallel design with a 1:1 ratio (NCT04089137). The current study presents the secondary outcomes of the pilot randomized controlled trial which include alcohol use, SA victimization, SA perpetration, and bystander intervention behavior. +Change© was associated with significantly less severe SA victimization and more bystander intervention behavior at 3-month follow-up relative to the control. There were no significant differences between conditions in alcohol use at 3-month follow-up, however, the magnitude of decreases in drinking in the +Change© condition in this pilot study were consistent with other personalized normative feedback interventions. The present study was unable to assess differences in SA perpetration due to low base rates. No adverse effects among those receiving the intervention were observed. Findings suggested that +Change© may be a feasible strategy to prevent SA, by reducing student SA victimization and increasing bystander intervention. A fully powered randomized clinical trial is needed to examine the effects of +Change©.

Prior Sexual Aggression as a Moderator of an Integrated Alcohol and Sexual Assault Prevention Program for Heavy Drinking College Men: A Brief Report.

Sexual aggression and heavy drinking are interrelated concerns among college men. As a result, integrated prevention interventions now exist to address co-occurring risk for sexual aggression and heavy drinking. The Sexual Assault and Alcohol Feedback and Education (SAFE) program is a multi-session integrated alcohol and sexual assault prevention program for college men that addresses alcohol use, sexual activity, social norms, alcohol-related sexual consequences, understanding of consent, and engagement in bystander intervention. Given that prior sexual aggression is a risk factor for subsequent perpetration of sexual aggression, the present study examined whether the effect of SAFE on a range of outcomes (rape myth acceptance, hypergender ideology, labeling of consent, and bystander intervention intentions) depended on men's baseline history of perpetration. Participants in the study were heavy drinking college men (N = 115) randomly assigned to SAFE or a mindfulness-based control condition, and who completed follow-ups at two and six months. Data were analyzed using multilevel modeling. Degree of prior sexual aggression significantly moderated effects of SAFE on change in intentions to intervene, as well as rape myth acceptance, between baseline and six months. As baseline perpetration decreased, those receiving SAFE significantly increased bystander intervention intentions more so than the control group. As baseline perpetration increased, those receiving SAFE significantly increased rape myth acceptance more so than the control group. Findings emphasize the importance of continued examination of who benefits from integrated alcohol and sexual assault prevention programs.

Child Sexual Abuse Prevention: What Parents Need to Know

Child Sexual Abuse Prevention: What Parents Need to Know

Focusing on men in campus sexual assault prevention education pays dividends

As the academic year begins and campuses enter the “Red Zone” — the time of year between orientation and Thanksgiving break when on‐campus sexual assault rates are most likely to spike — recent research points to the benefit of educating men specifically on campus sexual assault.

Parental styles and online sexual abuse prevention factors

Parental styles and online sexual abuse prevention factors

Challenges in Implementing Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Materials: A Survey of Primary School Teachers

The study investigates the current state of training materials used to prevent child sexual abuse, focusing on their frequency of use and the challenges faced by teachers in implementing these resources. The research surveyed 534 primary school teachers in Can Tho, Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong, revealing that while the materials are generally regarded as useful, they are utilized only at an "average" level, with 54.3% of teachers referencing "Books, newspapers, magazines" during lesson planning. Despite the appreciation for the content and form of these resources, the study identifies significant challenges, notably the time and effort required by teachers to select scientifically sound materials, with an average difficulty score of 3.62. The research highlights that the existing materials, although scientifically based, are often too academic and difficult to apply in practical teaching scenarios. The findings underscore the fragmented and emotionally driven nature of current resources, which lack a solid scientific foundation tailored to children's psychological development. Consequently, this results in inadequate access to well-constructed materials by both parents and children. The study's outcomes provide insights into the frequency of use and the obstacles teachers encounter, offering recommendations for improving the accessibility and applicability of these materials. However, the research is limited to a specific geographic area and teacher demographic, suggesting that the results may not be fully representative of the broader southern region or Vietnam as a whole.

Unlocking What Makes Military Behavioral Health Interventions Work, Stumble, or Fade Away.

The Office of the Secretary of Defense and each of the services have made an unprecedented commitment to the prevention of sexual assault and related behavioral health phenomena. Indeed, the Department of Air Force has selected, in some cases tailored, and disseminated a wide array of evidence-based preventative programs, policies, and practices (EBPs) over the last few decades. However, many of these efforts seem to follow a predictable life course. EBPs are initially implemented with great enthusiasm, supported for a few years, then fall out of favor, and are replaced by a different effort. This research effort aims to build on the existing civilian implementation science research to (1) offer a military-specific model of sustained, high-quality implementation and (2) test this model in a series of interconnected studies. New York University's Institutional Review Board approved the study protocols, and the Army's Human Research Protection Office provided permission to collect data. We conducted interviews first with prevention leaders in the services and at the Office of the Secretary of Defense level regarding factors that they thought helped or hurt the sustainment of EBPs. We used these interviews to identify EBPs currently implemented in Department of Air Force and selected four EBPs out of the 25 identified for intensive study. We then interviewed implementers of those four EBPs regarding what they thought helped or hurt the sustainment of that EBP. We also gathered information about the 25 currently implemented EBPs themselves and gathered policy and guidance, as well as leadership communication about those EBPs and the target problems they focus on. We coded this information to allow us to test EBP parameters and policy and leader communication that predict sustained high-quality implementation. We conducted over 100 observations of the 4 EBPs we are studying intensively and have collected quantitative data from implementers and participants to help us test factors related to sustained high-quality implementation within each of those 4 EBPs and across the EBPs. Several military-specific factors were nominated for inclusion in the military-specific model of implementation sustainment. The implementation of even highly standardized EBPs varies greatly. Implementers and participants are generally highly engaged, but implementers vary in the extent to which they understand the mechanisms of action for the EBP they are implementing. We recommend training implementers in the mechanisms of action in the EBPs they are expected to implement and including quality assurance as a component of prevention efforts in a manner more similar to how the military addresses aspects of the operational mission. By moving beyond counting classes and attendance, and specifying how to engage participants in the EBPs in the manner that produces the key outcomes, it is likely that EBPs will have more robust implementations that can be better sustained over time.

Evaluating factors affecting sexual abuse prevention education for primary school students according to the life skills approach

This comprehensive study delves into the intricate factors influencing sexual abuse prevention education for elementary school students, capturing insights from diverse stakeholders, including 423 students, 115 teachers, and 423 parents. Employing a Likert scale, the research evaluates various dimensions, shedding light on the nuanced dynamics that shape prevention programs. The results reveal that student-related factors, encompassing positive behavior, cognitive capacity, personality traits, and knowledge levels, received moderately positive mean scores. This underscores the significant contribution of inherent qualities and cognitive abilities of primary school students to the effectiveness of sexual abuse prevention education. Moving to family-related factors, parents’ extensive knowledge and understanding garnered a positive mean score of 2.91, signifying a favorable impact, while financial considerations received a slightly lower mean score of 2.92. Notably, parental educational methods and the inclination to delegate educational responsibilities to schools scored higher at 2.99 each, underscoring the influential role parents play in shaping their children's perspectives on sexual abuse prevention. Within the school environment, positive interactions between teachers and students stood out with a mean score of 2.97, emphasizing the pivotal role of supportive teacher-student relationships in facilitating effective sexual abuse prevention education. Societal factors exhibited varying influences, with local customs, culture, and social psychology receiving a mean score of 2.91, indicating a moderately positive impact. However, the development of the internet and information channels scored lower at 2.60, revealing potential challenges in adapting prevention education to the evolving landscape of online information dissemination. These nuanced findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the multifaceted factors shaping sexual abuse prevention education for elementary school students, providing a foundation for evidence-based interventions and policy decisions.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Self–Efficacy of Child Sexual Abuse Prevention among Teachers in Selected Secondary Schools in Abeokuta South Local Government, Ogun State

Knowledge, Attitudes and Self–Efficacy of Child Sexual Abuse Prevention among Teachers in Selected Secondary Schools in Abeokuta South Local Government, Ogun State