Bystander opportunities and interventions in sexual risk situations: findings from a Danish survey of upper-secondary students

In North America, efforts to prevent sexual violence increasingly emphasise training bystanders to intervene safely and effectively in potential risk situations. However, such approaches have yet to gain traction in the Nordic context. This study provides baseline data on Danish upper secondary students’ bystander opportunities, intervention likelihood, and actions. Analyses of questionnaire data from 523 Danish students show that 77% had witnessed at least one of seven risk scenarios, intervened 58% of the time on average, and used both direct and indirect bystander strategies, depending on the situation. In bootstrapped regression analyses, prior sexual victimisation and school year were significantly associated with intervention opportunities, while gender, sexual orientation and bystander efficacy predicted intervention likelihood. These findings indicate that Danish youth frequently encounter possibilities for bystander behaviour but may need support to act. Targeted bystander training may provide a promising avenue to prevent sexual harassment and assault in this population.PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT These findings suggest that both policy makers and school practitioners should prioritise the adoption of evidence-based bystander intervention programmes in upper-secondary education. Strengthening students’ abilities to recognise sexual risk situations and to intervene effectively and safely may help reduce sexual violence and contribute to safer youth communities across Denmark.