Systematic Review of College-based Bystander Interventions to Reduce Sexual Violence

Objective: Up to 20% of female students experience some form of sexual violence while attending college. Bystander intervention programs to reduce sexual violence among university students are increasingly common, yet their effectiveness is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of literature on issues of sexual violence on college campuses, as well as the role of bystander intervention programs and bystander behavior. Methods: Using PRISMA guidelines, database and reference list reviews generated a total of 530 resources from 1972 to 2020. Results: Screenings resulted in a total of 106 resources including peer-reviewed articles, governmental reports, and other scholarly references. Conclusions: Research into campus-based sexual violence has documented the increasing popularity of bystander intervention programs. Although these bystander programs are popular, literature highlights their limited effectiveness in reducing campus -based sexual violence. Future research should explore methods to increase understanding of how bystander intervention programs impact immediate and long-term behavior. Research also should explore motivations to intervene during lower risk situations on the sexual violence continuum which could help explain motivations to intervene during higher-risk situations.