Title
Effects of an Interactive School-Based Program for Preventing Adolescent Sexual Harassment: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Evaluation Study
Author
de Lijster, G.P.A.
Felten, H.
Kok, G.
Kocken, P.L.
Publication year
2016
Abstract
Many adolescents experience sexual harassment and victims of sexual harassment have higher risks regarding well-being and health behaviors such as higher risks of suicidal thoughts, suicidal ideation and feeling unsafe at school. A peer-performed play and school lessons on preventing sexual harassment behavior were presented to secondary school students. We evaluated its effectiveness, using a cluster-randomized controlled design to assign schools to an experimental condition [n = 14 schools; 431 students (51 % female)] and a control condition [n = 11 schools; 384 students (51 % female)]. To measure the effects of the intervention at first post-test and 6-month follow-up, our multilevel analyses used a two-level random intercept model. Outcome measures were sexual harassment behaviors, behavioral determinants and distal factors influencing these behaviors. At post-test, students in the experimental group reported a reduced intention to commit sexual harassment behavior and higher self-efficacy in rejecting it. At post-test and follow-up there was a significant positive effect on social norms for rejecting sexual harassment behavior. At follow-up, sexual self-esteem was higher in students in the experimental group than in the control group. Effects on these determinants will benefit adolescents’ future sexual behaviors. In combination, the play and lessons, possibly together with continued sexual health education and skills programs on social-emotional learning in subsequent school years, have potential for preventing sexual harassment behavior.
Subject
ELSS - Earth, Life and Social Sciences
Life
Healthy Living
Healthy for Life
Adolescents
Sexual harassment
Prevention
Evaluation
School-based program
Comparative effectiveness
Control group
Controlled clinical trial
Controlled study
Evaluation study
Experimental model
Female
Follow up
Human
Learning
Major clinical study
Male
Multilevel analysis
Randomized controlled trial
Self esteem
Sexual health
Skill
Social norm
Student
CH - Child Health
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:5e06e877-63be-4195-9591-6451117ad597
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-016-0471-9
TNO identifier
534199
Document type
article