UK and Australian University Students’ Perceptions of the Nature of Sexual Assault and Intervening Behavior

Danielle Labhardt; Sarah J Brown; Emma Holdsworth; Nadine McKillop; Douglas Howat; Christian M Jones

doi:10.1177/08862605231212171

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UK and Australian University Students’ Perceptions of the Nature of Sexual Assault and Intervening Behavior

Journal article

Open access

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UK and Australian University Students’ Perceptions of the Nature of Sexual Assault and Intervening Behavior

Danielle Labhardt, Sarah J Brown, Emma Holdsworth, Nadine McKillop, Douglas Howat and Christian M Jones

Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Vol.39(9-10), pp.1952-1975

2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605231212171

PMCID: PMC10993633

PMID: 37961902

Appears in UniSC Supported Open Access Outputs

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Abstract

Criminology

Crime prevention

sexual assult

bystander intervention

prevention

consent

qualitative

student perceptions

Sexual assault is a global problem, with the risk highest among university students. Bystander intervention preventing sexual assaults has primarily been researched using quantitative methods to understand what factors influence it. However, both sexual assault and bystander intervention are complex with many subtle and overlapping issues that, when analyzed qualitatively, can offer new insights. The current study aimed to explore and develop a nuanced and comprehensive understanding of students’ perceptions of sexual assault and bystander intervention across two universities, one in the United Kingdom and one in Australia. Thirty-nine university students (19 in the United Kingdom; 20 in Australia) took part in one-to-one semistructured interviews. Using inductive thematic analysis, two overarching themes were identified: (a) navigating the complex dynamics of sexual assault; and (b) decisions to intervene or not to intervene. Findings suggest that the complexity and ambiguity around sexual assault can forestall bystander intervention. As such, increasing education, awareness, and discussions around sexual assault and bystander intervention is vital to increase awareness of the problem and mobilize action from bystanders to prevent sexual assault.

Details

Title: UK and Australian University Students’ Perceptions of the Nature of Sexual Assault and Intervening Behavior
Authors: Danielle Labhardt (Corresponding Author) - Manchester Metropolitan University
Sarah J Brown (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Law and Criminology - Legacy
Emma Holdsworth (Author) - Coventry University
Nadine McKillop (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit
Douglas Howat (Author) - Coventry University
Christian M Jones (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Engage Research Lab
Publication details: Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Vol.39(9-10), pp.1952-1975
Publisher: Sage Publications, Inc.
Date published: 2024
DOI: 10.1177/08862605231212171
ISSN: 1552-6518
PMID: 37961902; PMC10993633
Copyright note: © The Author(s) 2023. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).
Organisation Unit: Healthy Ageing Research Cluster; Engage Research Lab; School of Law and Society; Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit; School of Law and Criminology - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99978098902621
Output Type: Journal article

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