Speaker
Description
Authors: Clara Niemann Clara Niemann, Maximilian von Heyden (FINDER e.V.)
Background: RBYC-Adapt aims to culturally adapt and implement the "Responsible Behavior with Younger Children (RBYC)" program in Germany. The school-based program (German name: 3VK) is designed to prevent problematic sexual behaviors by adolescents towards peers and younger children by promoting responsible interactions through a five-session curriculum implemented by educators. Through an iterative adaptation process, the project ensures that the intervention is contextually appropriate while maintaining its core evidence-based principles. Following cultural adaptation and pilot testing, a large-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 22 schools will evaluate the program’s effectiveness.
Methods: The project employs a mixed-methods approach, including qualitative interviews with educators to inform cultural adaptation, a pilot study, as well as an RCT. The pilot study follows a quasi-experimental design, assessing changes in norms, attitudes, self-efficacy, and behavioral intentions among participants. Data collection includes semi-structured interviews with relevant stakeholders and pre- and post-intervention surveys for students. The upcoming RCT will use a cluster-randomized design to assess the program’s impact on students' norms, attitudes, self-efficacy, and behaviors related to responsible interactions, consent, and sexual violence prevention.
Results: Preliminary findings from the cultural adaptation and pilot phase suggest that the adapted program is well-received by educators and students. Challenges in implementation and data collection, such as time constraints and cultural appropriateness are being identified addressed. The forthcoming RCT will provide evidence on the program’s effectiveness across diverse school environments.
Discussion: Findings from the adaptation and pilot phases show that adolescents are highly receptive to the program’s contents. Educators highlight its role in addressing a critical gap by focusing on potential perpetrators rather than solely on victim protection. The cross-cultural need for perpetration-focused prevention underscores its importance in school-based efforts. The large-scale RCT will provide key insights into the program’s long-term impact and feasibility, informing policy and practice in sexual violence prevention.
| Conflict of interest | The author(s) declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication. |
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