April 7-9, 2022 • Hyatt Regency • Lexington, KY
Communication Strategies to Promote Comprehensive Well-being
Communication Strategies to Promote Comprehensive Well-being
Abstract: Understanding Young Adults’ Intentions to Intervene in Intimate Partner Violence Using Various Communication Strategies
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a behavioral health issue of importance among the young adult (YA) population (Cupp et al., 2015). IPV includes acts of physical violence, sexual violence, psychological aggression, and stalking enacted by an intimate partner (Smith et al., 2018). In the U.S., one in three women and one in ten men experience IPV during their lifetime. Over 70% of women who experience IPV indicate the first act occurred before the age of 25. Furthermore, 1/3 of acts of IPV occur in the presence of bystanders (Planty, 2002). One approach to address IPV among YAs at institutions of higher education is through bystander intervention programming. The objective of this study was to examine college students’ attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioral control in the context of intervening in acts of IPV using different communication strategies through the lens of the reasoned action approach (RAA; Fishbein & Ajzen, 2010). The study was conducted in two phases. Phase One. An elicitation questionnaire was used with a small sample (N = 29) of individuals who represent the target population to obtain salient, readily accessible beliefs with regard to behavioral outcomes, normative referents, and control factors as they relate to intervening in IPV. Participants answered three sets of questions in an open response format. A basic thematic analysis was used to efficiently identify themes from the responses provided. The data were analyzed using a thematic open coding methodology (Creswell, 2013). If a code was mentioned by 20% or more of the respondents, the belief was included in the measures for the Phase Two survey. Phase Two. Participants were recruited through SONA at a southern university. To participate, individuals had to be a student at the university and between the ages of 18 and 26. Participants (N =461) were 18 to 25 years old (M = 19.90). The majority identified as female (n = 330), White (n = 400), one-fourth (n = 117) had received violence education, 18.9% indicated they had experienced IPV, and over half knew a survivor (n = 317). The survey was administered through Qualtrics. Following the informed consent, participants answered RAA measures in reference to bystander intervention in the context of IPV. Five hierarchical regressions were employed for each outcome variable including intentions to use four different communication strategies to intervene (i.e., direct, distract, delegate, delay) and the option to do nothing. Participant gender, IPV education, knowing an IPV survivor, and having personally experienced IPV were entered in block 1 as covariates. In block 2, attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioral control variables were entered. The results of the five regression models illustrate bystander intervention is not a one-size-fits all approach. The data sheds light on theoretical mechanisms that may increase YAs’ intentions to intervene and what communication strategies students find most accessible when confronted with IPV as a bystander. The findings provide a basis to inform messages for programmatic materials developed to improve YA college students` awareness of IPV and to train them in intervening effectively.