Effects of an Interactive School-Based Program for Preventing Adolescent Sexual Harassment: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Evaluation Study

dc.contributor.authorDe Lijster, Gaby P. A., Felten, Hanneke, Kok, Gerjo, & Kocken, Paul L.
dc.date.accessioned2017-11-08T16:39:51Z
dc.date.available2017-11-08T16:39:51Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.description.abstractMany 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. (Author Abstract)en_US
dc.identifier.citationDe Lijster, Gaby P. A., Felten, Hanneke, Kok, Gerjo, & Kocken, Paul L. (2016). Effects of an Interactive School-Based Program for Preventing Adolescent Sexual Harassment: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Evaluation Study. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 45, 874–886.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4826426/pdf/10964_2016_Article_471.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11212/3597
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherJournal of Youth and Adolescenceen_US
dc.subjectchild abuseen_US
dc.subjectpreventionen_US
dc.subjectsex educationen_US
dc.subjectevaluationen_US
dc.subjectresearchen_US
dc.subjectInternational Resourcesen_US
dc.subjectNetherlandsen_US
dc.titleEffects of an Interactive School-Based Program for Preventing Adolescent Sexual Harassment: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Evaluation Studyen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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