Date of Graduation

5-2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Health, Sport and Exercise Science (PhD)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Health, Human Performance and Recreation

Advisor/Mentor

Dobbs, Page D.

Committee Member

Davis, Robert E.

Second Committee Member

Hammig, Bart J.

Third Committee Member

Wiersma-Mosley, Jacquelyn D.

Keywords

Bystander Intervention; Fitness Center; Gym; Sexual Harassment; Violence Prevention

Abstract

Objective. The purpose of this study was to modify and validate an instrument to examine factors associated with being an active bystander when witnessing sexual harassment at a gym or fitness center. Using Fishbein and Ajzen’s Reasoned Action Approach (RAA), this study aimed to better understand the influence of a person’s attitude, social norms, and perceived behavioral control (PBC) on their intention to be an active bystander when witness to someone being sexually harassed at the gym in the next 30 days. Methodology. This study utilized an exploratory sequential mixed methods design, with phase one taking place between June and August 2022 and the subsequent phase taking place during February 2024. Phase one used a salient belief elicitation procedure as recommended by the RAA authors through the use of semi-structured interviews (N=30). The most salient responses from this phase were integrated into an already established instrument used for college students in college settings. Phase two involved surveying a nationally acquired sample (N=598) and testing the model fit of the instrument using a Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling. Results. Responses from phase one interviews were used to build the survey items for phase two. The final survey for phase two included a total of 102 items. Model fit was tested using both a four (intention, attitude, social norms, PBC) and seven factor (intention, experiential attitude, instrumental attitude, injunctive norm, descriptive norm, autonomy, and capacity) solution. In the four-factor solution, PBC was found to have the greatest influence on intention (.48, p <.001). In the seven-factor model, capacity was found to be most influential on intention (.72, p <.001). Conclusion. The authors of the RAA acknowledge the nuance of beliefs and allowed for the bifurcating of the attitude, social norm, and PBC constructs. Although people have favorable attitudes toward being an active bystander and believe social norms allow it, the individual intention is most influenced by the skills and resources a person has at their disposal. Gym owners, managers, and employees should work on advocating for bystander intervention in their spaces through educating their work force and patrons on how to successfully intervene if needed.

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