What’s Your BAC (Bystander Alcohol Check-in)? Adapting a Novel Bystander Training Program for Online Use

Abstract

Objective: Bystander training programs have gained popularity as effective strategies for preventing sexual violence on college campuses. However, despite the strong connection between sexual violence and alcohol use, few programs address alcohol harm reduction. This study adapted an in-person bystander training program aimed at reducing both sexual violence and hazardous alcohol use (What’s Your BAC?) into an online format to increase accessibility and dissemination. The training was also altered to be inclusive of students with disabilities, a group historically overlooked in sexual violence prevention efforts. Method: The study recruited 161 college students who were randomly assigned to either a bystander intervention condition or a no-treatment control condition. Students were also randomly assigned to read a vignette depicting a sexual assault, which varied based on the victim’s disability status, to assess their willingness to intervene as bystanders. Results: The intervention was generally found to be feasible, acceptable, accessible, and inclusive of students with disabilities. Additionally, between-subjects ANOVAs found that students assigned to the intervention condition compared to those in the control condition displayed lower perceived drinking norms, heightened alcohol knowledge, and increased bystander confidence and intent. This study did not find a significant difference in students’ sexual violence knowledge or attitudes toward rape, and disability status of the vignette character had no significant effect on bystander outcomes. Implications: Findings from this study support the efficacy of a novel, online bystander training program. If disseminated, this program could potentially assist in reducing sexual violence and harmful drinking practices on college campuses. Furthermore, this study adds to the literature on factors that influence bystander intentions, suggesting that students are equally likely to help their peers regardless of the victim’s disability status.