Evaluation of Green Dot: an active bystander intervention to reduce sexual violence on college campuses

Violence Against Women. 2011 Jun;17(6):777-96. doi: 10.1177/1077801211410264. Epub 2011 Jun 2.

Abstract

Using a cross-sectional survey of a random sample of 7,945 college undergraduates, we report on the association between having received Green Dot active bystander behavior training and the frequency of actual and observed self-reported active bystander behaviors as well as violence acceptance norms. Of 2,504 students aged 18 to 26 who completed the survey, 46% had heard a Green Dot speech on campus, and 14% had received active bystander training during the past 2 years. Trained students had significantly lower rape myth acceptance scores than did students with no training. Trained students also reported engaging in significantly more bystander behaviors and observing more self-reported active bystander behaviors when compared with nontrained students. When comparing self-reported active bystander behavior scores of students trained with students hearing a Green Dot speech alone, the training was associated with significantly higher active bystander behavior scores. Those receiving bystander training appeared to report more active bystander behaviors than those simply hearing a Green Dot speech, and both intervention groups reported more observed and active bystander behaviors than nonexposed students.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Helping Behavior*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Rape / prevention & control*
  • Self Report
  • Social Responsibility*
  • Social Values
  • Student Health Services*
  • Students
  • Teaching / methods*
  • Universities
  • Violence / prevention & control*
  • Young Adult