Opening the "Black Box": Student-Generated Solutions to Improve Sexual Violence Response and Prevention Efforts for Undergraduates on College Campuses

Brittnie E Bloom; Eunhee Park; Dallas Swendeman; Laury Oaks; Stephanie Sumstine; Claire Amabile; Stoddy Carey; Jennifer A Wagman

doi:10.1177/10778012211068063

Opening the "Black Box": Student-Generated Solutions to Improve Sexual Violence Response and Prevention Efforts for Undergraduates on College Campuses

Violence Against Women. 2022 Nov;28(14):3554-3587. doi: 10.1177/10778012211068063. Epub 2022 Jan 18.

Authors

Brittnie E Bloom^{1

2

3

4}, Eunhee Park^{2

5}, Dallas Swendeman^{2

6}, Laury Oaks^{2

7}, Stephanie Sumstine^{2

6}, Claire Amabile^{2

6}, Stoddy Carey⁵, Jennifer A Wagman^{2

5}

Affiliations

¹ Center on Gender Equity and Health, School of Medicine, 8784University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
² University of California Global Health Institute Women's Health, Gender, and Empowerment Center of Expertise, CA, USA.
³ Graduate School of Public Health, 229133San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
⁴ University of California San Diego, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, San Diego, CA, USA.
⁵ Department of Community Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁶ Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁷ Department of Feminist Studies, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.

PMID: 35040708
DOI: 10.1177/10778012211068063

Abstract

Campus-based sexual violence and sexual harassment (SVSH) are prevalent issues that impact students detrimentally. Guided by community-based participatory research, this qualitative study assessed undergraduate students' perceptions of available campus SVSH resources, gaps in services, and recommendations for solutions for SVSH at three universities in California via interviews and focus groups. Approximately half of participants were unaware of available SVSH services, while others had varying knowledge of service availability and experiences with services. Students want better-funded, trauma-informed, and survivor-centered services and providers who share their identities and lived experiences. We provide multi-level student-centered solutions to improve current campus-based SVSH prevention efforts.

Keywords: policy; sexual assault/sexual harassment; student voice; undergraduate.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Focus Groups
Humans
Sex Offenses* / prevention & control
Sexual Harassment* / prevention & control
Students
Universities