The effects of acquaintance rape prevention programming on male athletes? sexual and dating attitudes

Abstract

The sexual and dating attitudes of male athletes who participated in an acquaintance rape prention program were compared to those receiving no program. The program utilized was developed from Ohio State University's "Stop Rape" program. College male athletes (N= 66) at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville were assessed using the "Sexual and Dating Attitudes Survey." A preanalyses examined pre-posttest values within groups and the null hypotheses examined pre-posttest values between the experimental and control groups. The nonparametric statistics used were the Wilcoxon and the Mann-Whitney U respectively. A significant difference was observed within Experimental Group B (n = 29) and when this group was compared to the control n = 26) and to Experimental Group A (n = 11). No significant difference was observed within Group A or when this group was compared to the control. Though the small sample size may have influenced these results, they suggest that a difference in attitudes may exist between various athletic organizations. It was determined that the program produced a positive change in the attitudes of the majority of male athletes. Program goals, objectives, outline, and handouts are provided.