Clinical Research Directory

The Efficacy of the SUN Program in Adolescents

Sponsor: Universidade do Porto

Summary

This research project will develop, deliver, and evaluate a new school-based sexual violence prevention program for high-school adolescents. The SUN program (Stand Up Now against sexual violence) aims to prevent the occurrence of sexual violence among adolescents. The program approaches sexual violence as a complex phenomenon which occurs in many contexts throughout life. This program approaches specific concepts associated with sexual violence, such as sexual consent, while acknowledging the association between this form of violence and other violent phenomena. The program uses a bystander approach to support adolescents in the development of bystander attitudes and behaviors, which can be used in situations where the risk of sexual violence may be present. These may include behaviors such as confronting someone who is trying to take advantage of another person or reporting someone who committed sexual violence. The program aims to reduce myths associated with sexual violence, to increase empathy in this context and to improve bystander skills. Program sessions will combine group discussions with skills-building exercises. This study will apply the SUN program in school settings and compare the adolescents who will take part in the program with adolescents who will not. The study will evaluate changes in sexual violence myths, sexism, empathy, and bystander attitudes and behaviors. The authors hypothesize that by decreasing myths associated with sexual violence and sexism, and by increasing empathy in this context, the program will be able to increase the adolescents' capacity to intervene in real-world situations to prevent sexual violence (i.e., bystander attitudes and behaviors). Additionally, the programs' acceptability will be assessed through focus groups conducted with students. It is expected that this project will improve scientific knowledge regarding sexual violence prevention.

Official title: The Efficacy of a New Sexual Violence Primary Prevention Program for Adolescents: A Cluster Randomized Trial of the Stand Up Now Against Sexual Violence (SUN) Program

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