University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4PY, UK.
University of Strathclyde, G1 IXQ, Glasgow, Scotland.
BMC Public Health. 2020 May 13;20(1):674. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-08519-6.
Violence against women and girls is a public health epidemic. Campus-based research has found bystander programmes show promise as effective primary prevention of sexual violence. However, evidence regarding domestic violence and abuse bystander prevention specifically, and in community settings generally, is still in development. Further, research has predominantly emanated from the US. Examining proof of concept in differing cultural contexts is required. This study evaluates the feasibility and potential for effectiveness of a domestic violence and abuse bystander intervention within UK general communities-Active Bystander Communities.
Participants recruited opportunistically attended a three-session programme facilitated by experts in the field. Programme feasibility was measured using participant attendance and feedback across nine learning objectives. Myth acceptance, bystander efficacy, behavioural intent and bystander behaviours were assessed using validated scales at baseline, post-intervention, and four-month follow-up. Results were examined for potential backlash. Analyses used a paired sample t-test and effect size was quantified with Cohen's d.
58/70 participants attended all programme sessions. Participant feedback consistently rated the programme highly and significant change (p ≤ 0·001) was observed in the desired direction across behavioural intent, bystander efficacy, and myth acceptance scores at post and follow-up. Effect size was generally large and, with the exception of Perception of Peer Myth Acceptance, improved at follow-up. Backlash was minimal.
To our knowledge this is the first UK-based study to examine the potential of bystander intervention as a community-level intervention for domestic violence and abuse. Findings are promising and indicate the translatability of the bystander approach to domestic violence and abuse prevention as well as community contexts. This is likely to be of great interest to policymakers and may help shape future community-based interventions. Further research is now needed using experimental designs engaging diverse community audiences.
针对妇女和女童的暴力行为是一种公共卫生流行病。基于校园的研究发现，旁观者计划显示出作为性暴力有效初级预防的潜力。然而，关于家庭暴力和虐待旁观者预防的证据，特别是在社区环境中，仍在发展中。此外，研究主要源自美国。需要在不同的文化背景下检验概念验证。本研究评估了在英国普通社区——积极旁观者社区中实施家庭暴力和虐待旁观者干预措施的可行性和潜在有效性。
通过该领域的专家，机会性招募参与者参加了一个为期三节课的项目。通过九个学习目标的参与者参与度和反馈来衡量方案的可行性。在基线、干预后和四个月随访时，使用经过验证的量表评估神话接受度、旁观者效能、行为意向和旁观者行为。检查了潜在的反作用。分析使用了配对样本 t 检验，并用 Cohen's d 量化了效应大小。
58/70 名参与者参加了所有课程。参与者的反馈一致对该计划给予高度评价，并观察到行为意向、旁观者效能和神话接受度得分在干预后和随访时朝着预期的方向发生了显著变化（p≤0.001）。效应大小通常较大，除了同伴神话接受度的感知外，在随访时有所提高。反作用很小。
据我们所知，这是英国首例研究旁观者干预作为家庭暴力和虐待的社区一级干预措施的潜力。研究结果很有希望，表明旁观者方法在家庭暴力和虐待预防以及社区环境中的可转移性。这可能对政策制定者非常感兴趣，并可能有助于塑造未来的基于社区的干预措施。现在需要使用吸引不同社区受众的实验设计进行进一步研究。
