Contradictions in change: Ecological factors in the implementation of outer layer sexual violence prevention

• Published in: American journal of community psychology 2023-09, Vol.72 (1-2), p.15-31
• Main Authors: Rieger, Agnes, Blackburn, Allyson M., Nag, Apoorva, Holland, Hope, Allen, Nicole E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Autonomy; Community psychology; Definitions; Environmental aspects; implementation; Inequality; Intervention; Job training; Leadership; Occupational roles; Oppression; Prevention; settings; Sex crimes; sexual violence; socioecological model; Violence
• ISSN: 0091-0562; 1573-2770
• DOI: 10.1002/ajcp.12672

This study examined the adoption and implementation process in early efforts to implement ecological (“outer layer”) sexual violence (SV) prevention strategies. Interviews with 28 preventionists from 26 local sites within a large, midwestern state, were conducted to examine individual preventionists' problem definitions of SV and ecological factors surrounding implementation. Findings suggest that SV prevention in the state is primarily implemented at the individual‐level; when preventionists described engaging in or anticipating outer layer interventions, they were often tertiary (i.e., responding after perpetration; e.g., Sexual Assault Response Teams). A majority expressed problem definitions rooted within the individual (e.g., perpetration due to a lack of consent education), and a majority of implemented efforts matched this individual‐level conceptualization. Yet, contradictions between problem definitions (e.g., SV stemming from oppression) and implemented activities (e.g., single‐session educational interventions) emerged. Such contradictions may be best understood in light of contextual implementation influences: diverse preventionist job responsibilities, less training/support for outer layer prevention, preventionist autonomy, leadership messaging, time requirements, partner reticence, and extensive work with schools. Inner layer influences, including identification with job roles, preference for, and a sense of urgency toward inner layer work, appeared to interact with contextual factors. Implications across community psychology domains are discussed. Highlights Sexual violence (SV) prevention can be at approached inner (e.g., increasing personal knowledge) and outer layers (e.g., addressing inequities). A focus on outer layer prevention efforts requires a shift for some SV preventionists. Preventionists often paired inner layer SV understandings with implemented inner layer prevention. Contradictions emerged when outer layer understandings were paired with inner layer prevention implementation. Moving to ecologically informed prevention requires attention to the ecology of prevention work itself.