Cumulative effects of sexual prevention messages among a representative sample of women starting university

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Daigneault I, McMahon S, Dion J, Senn C, Hébert M, Baril K, Bergeron M, Savoie L, Sanchez G, Fethi I, Paquette G. (2026). Cumulative effects of sexual prevention messages among a representative sample of women starting university. Journal of College Student Development. 67 : 368-372. 

Résumé

Sexual violence is a pervasive issue affecting many women in college and university, with approximately 20% reporting assaults (Rosenberg et al., 2019). Despite increased awareness and prevention efforts, annual rates of sexual violence among university women have remained relatively stable over recent decades (Daigneault et al., 2023; Koss et al., 2022). Few prevention programs have been systematically evaluated, but those that have show promising outcomes. The best of these programs have been linked to reductions in sexual assault victimization, adherence to sexual assault myths, as well as increases in bystander intervention, self-confidence, knowledge, self-efficacy, and willingness to use effective self-defense strategies (Bonar et al., 2022; Orchowski et al., 2020). The Effectiveness of these programs follows a dose-response model, with longer and repeated interventions being the most effective (Banyard et al., 2007; Senn et al., 2011; Senn et al., 2015; Vladutiu et al., 2011).

However, there is limited data on the cumulative impact of the various awareness and prevention messages. McMahon and colleagues (2018; 2019) highlighted this gap and showed that higher levels of exposure to prevention messages correlate with greater knowledge of resources, increased efficacy in seeking help, and improved bystander intentions and behaviors. Nevertheless, to our knowledge, no study has examined whether cumulative exposure to these messages enhances critical outcomes for effective sexual assault prevention among women.

The present study aimed to determine whether cumulative exposure to prevention messages before undergraduate studies in university is associated with lower adherence to myths about sexual violence and victim-blaming attitudes, better risk perception, and greater knowledge of effective resistance strategies and self-defense self-efficacy upon arrival on campus. Improvements in these outcomes explain how a sexual assault education resistance program is effective at reducing rates of rape (Senn et al., 2021). It was hypothesized that greater lifetime exposure to prevention messages would be associated with more positive outcomes when starting university. The study controlled for potential confounding and risk factors such as sociodemographic characteristics and childhood trauma (Theoret et al., 2023).

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