The Impact of a University Sexual Assault Prevention Program on Student Comfort With Help-Seeking

To reduce sexual victimization on college campuses, many institutions offer mandatory sexual assault prevention programs for students. However, little is known on how such programs may affect willingness to access campus resources. This study attempts to fill this gap with a sample of college students at a mid-sized university in an urban setting (<i>n </i>= 2,100). Utilizing a quasi-experimental design, we found that students who received the program displayed greater levels of comfort related to seeking help on-campus. Results serve to advance discussions related to potential impacts of prevention programs for students. Practical implications for institutions of higher education are discussed.