Preliminary Data on an Intervention to Reduce Negative Social Reactions to Victims’ Disclosures

We examined the preliminary effectiveness of a novel intervention to reduce disclosure recipients’ negative social reactions (SR) and increase positive SR to a sexual assault (SA) and/or intimate partner violence (IPV) disclosure. Surveys were completed by 43 college students before and immediately after participating in a 2-hour intervention. There were significant decreases from pretest to posttest on the following anticipated responses: negative SR to a SA or IPV disclosure, demanding IPV victims to leave their abusive relationship, and encouraging SA victims to use alcohol to cope. There were significant increases from pretest to posttest in anticipated positive SR to an IPV disclosure.