Faculty, Staff and Student Publications
Publication Date
10-29-2024
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Sexual harassment (SH) and sexual assault (SA) are serious public health problems among US service members. Few SH and SA prevention interventions have been developed exclusively for the military. Code of Respect (X-CoRe) is an innovative web-based, multilevel, SA and SH intervention designed exclusively for the active-duty Air Force. The program's goal is to increase Airmen's knowledge and skills to build and maintain respectful relationships, ultimately reducing SH and SA and enhancing Airmen's overall well-being and mission readiness.
OBJECTIVE: This pilot study aimed to assess the short-term psychosocial impact (eg, knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy) of the web-based component of X-CoRe on a sample of junior enlisted and midlevel Airmen.
METHODS: Airmen from a military installation located in the Northeastern United States were recruited to complete the 10 web-based modules in X-CoRe (9/15, 60% male; 7/15, 54% aged 30-35 years). Participants were given pretests and posttests to measure short-term psychosocial outcomes associated with SH and SA. Descriptive statistics and paired 2-tailed t tests were conducted to assess differences from preintervention to postintervention time points.
RESULTS: After completing X-CoRe, participants had a significantly greater understanding of active consent (P=.04), confidence in their healthy relationship skills (P=.045), and confidence to intervene as bystanders (P=.01). Although not statistically significant (P>.05), mean scores in attitudes about SH, couple violence, and cyberbullying; perceptions of sexual misconduct as part of military life; and relationship skills self-efficacy with a romantic partner and friend also improved.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study demonstrate X-CoRe's effectiveness in improving critical determinants of SH and SA, making it a promising intervention for SH and SA prevention. More rigorous research is needed to determine X-CoRe's impact on SH and SA victimization and the long-term impact on associated psychosocial determinants.
Keywords
Humans, Military Personnel, Female, Male, Pilot Projects, Adult, Sex Offenses, Sexual Harassment, United States, Young Adult, Surveys and Questionnaires, Self Efficacy, Interpersonal Relations, sexual assault prevention, sexual harassment prevention, healthy relationships, military, technology-based interventions, intervention mapping
DOI
10.2196/64412
PMID
39471370
PMCID
PMC11558222
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
10-29-2024
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes
Included in
Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, Health Information Technology Commons, Public Health Education and Promotion Commons