“Use Your Heart”: Promise of a Program to Prevent the Use of Sexual Violence and Promote Positive Youth Development Among Middle School Boys on a Tribal Reservation

Abstract

Research underscores the epidemic of sexual violence (SV) among Indigenous populations including youth, which is rooted in colonization and multiple historical traumas. Yet, little research has examined the prevention of SV in the context of tribal reservations. The purpose of the current study was to examine the promise of the program, including (a) examining program acceptability and fidelity; and (b) changes in intermediary outcomes (e.g., gender-equitable attitudes, rape myths) associated with participation in a program (i.e., Sources of Strength [SOS]) intended to prevent SV and among middle school boys residing on a rural reservation in the Northern Great Plains. SOS teaches boys to understand and manage violence in peaceful ways, including an emphasis on cultural values and resisting peer pressure. Participants were 56 middle school boys who completed a pretest, participated in SOS over a 6-week period, and completed a posttest several weeks following the last SOS session. Participants also completed a postsession survey after each session where we assessed acceptability. Qualitative analysis of open-ended responses on the postsession surveys found that the program was acceptable and perceived as impactful (e.g., commitment to nonviolence, living life consistent with Lakota manhood). Results from analyses examining changes from pre- to posttest found reductions in rape myths and some domains of conformity to masculine norms and increases in gender-equitable attitudes. There were no changes in recognizing the importance of sexual consent. This initial study documents that SOS holds promise as a program to prevent the use of SV among Indigenous middle school boys.