Pilot Study Of Safe Sisters: A Sexual Assault Prevention Program For Sorority Women

Sexual violence is a serious problem that can have lasting, harmful effects on victims and their family, friends, and communities (CDC, 2014). Approximately one in five women will become a victim of sexual violence at some point in their lifetime (RAINN, 2009). College women are at a greater risk for rape and other forms of sexual assault than women in the general population (Fisher, Cullen & Turner, 2000). During an academic school year, approximately three percent of college women became a victim of sexual violence (Tijaden & Thoennes, 1998). Sorority women are four times more likely to experience sexual violence compared to other college women (Minow & Einolf, 2009). To date, only one study has assessed a sexual violence prevention program targeting sorority women (Moynihan, Banyard, Arnold, Eckstein, & Stapleton, 2011). This study assessed the effectiveness of Safe Sisters, a sexual violence prevention program for sorority women that is based on the Health Belief Model. Four sororities (2 for experimental program group, 2 for comparison group) were recruited via email to organization presidents. The study evaluated Health Belief Model constructs and knowledge, via questionnaires, at two time-points: pre-test and post-test. Of 283 participants contacted, at pretest there were 176 participants (a 62% response rate) and at post-test there were 137 participants (a 48% response rate). Difference in differences regression was used to compare interventions and dependent variables from pre-test to post-test. There was a significant difference in decisional balance (β = .655, 95% CI [.145, 1.16], p =.012), knowledge (β = 2.09, 95% CI [β = 1.55, 2.64], p =.000), and bystander self-efficacy (β = .343, 95% CI [.031, .655], p = .032) from pre-test to post-test. Participants in the treatment group shoa significant increase in knowledge of alcohol as a rape drug and the UWF Sexual Misconduct Policy. There was also significant increase in one's belief that intervening can prevent someone from being hurt. The Safe Sisters program is a promising tool for educating sorority women about sexual violence.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D. in Health and Kinesiology

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management

Year dc:date.available

2014

Author dc:creator

• Cambron, Alicia Pugh

Contributors dc:contributor

• Martha Bass
• Linda Keena
• Allison Ford-Wade

• College
• Health Belief Model
• Sexual Assault
• Sexual Violence
• Sorority
• Public Health Education and Promotion

Repository record dc:identifier

https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/611

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:egrove.olemiss.edu:etd-1610