A Popular Approach, but Do They Work? A Systematic Review of Social Marketing Campaigns to Prevent Sexual Violence on College Campuses. (March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Chelsey; Bouchard, Jessica; Wong, Jennifer S.
• Is Part Of: Violence against women. Volume 29:Number 3/4(2023)
• Page Start: 495
• Page End: 526
• Publication Date: 2023-03
• Subjects: sexual violence prevention -- college -- social marketing campaign -- systematic review; Abused women -- Periodicals; Women -- Crimes against -- Periodicals; Violent crimes -- Periodicals; Femmes victimes de violence -- Périodiques; Femmes, Crimes contre les -- Périodiques; Crimes violents -- Périodiques; 362.8292
• DOI: 10.1177/10778012221092476
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1077-8012

Abstract

College campuses continue to face high rates of sexual violence and social marketing campaigns have emerged as a common prevention strategy. However, there exists no summative research examining the effectiveness of this approach. A systematic search yielded 15 evaluations of eight unique prevention campaigns, which contributed to 38 individual outcome measures across four outcome categories (i.e., knowledge, attitudes, intentions/efficacy, and behavior). Summative results are mixed, but show promising campaign effects for increasing knowledge, modification of some attitudes toward sexual violence, intentions to participate, and actual participation in prevention activities. More evaluative research is needed for a comprehensive understanding of campaign effectiveness.