Bystander interventions for sexual assault and dating violence on college campuses: Are we putting bystanders in harm's way?. Issue 3 (3rd April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Witte, Tricia H.; Casper, Deborah M.; Hackman, Christine L.; Mulla, Mazheruddin M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of American college health. Volume 65:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 149
• Page End: 157
• Publication Date: 2017-04-03
• Subjects: College -- dating violence -- prevention -- sexual assault -- vicarious trauma; College students -- Health and hygiene -- United States -- Periodicals; College students -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; College students -- Mental health -- Periodicals; Universities and colleges -- Health promotion services -- Periodicals; 362.10883781980973
• DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2016.1264407
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0744-8481

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Objective : The present study investigated the well-being of bystanders who witness and intervene in sexual assault and dating violence situations on campus.Participants : Participants were 321 young men and women from a large university in the southeastern United States.Methods : Participants completed a survey at the end of the Spring semester of 2015 about risky situations they had witnessed, with follow-up questions about their responses to the situations (eg, whether they intervened or not) and feelings about their responses. Participants also completed standardized measures of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression.Results : Over 90% of the participants reported witnessing at least 1 of the risky events presented to them, and approximately 50% reported intervening in events. Intervening was associated with positive feelings, but traumatic stress symptoms were related to witnessing events and intervening.Conclusions : Results have direct implications for developing appropriate training programs for bystander intervention programs on college campuses.