The Influence of Intimate Partner Violence Public Service Announcements on Help Seeking, Attitudes, and Bystanders
Abstract
The current study used the IPVAS-R, CTS2S, Bystander Efficacy Scale, Bystander Intentions to Help Scale, Bystander Behaviors Scale, and the MHSS to test the hypothesis that the IPV PSA would produce greater intentions to seek help in the event of victimization, lower minimization scores, and increased confidence and intentions to help. The current study also examined the influence of victimization on intentions to seek help, as well as the influence of previous bystander experience on bystander efficacy and intentions to help. Two MANOVAs indicated support for the two latter hypotheses and only partial support for the influence of the IPV PSA. Bystander efficacy was the only variable that suggested a significant influence of the IPV PSA. Additional research is needed to determine what aspects of the IPV PSA were effective in influencing outcome variables and to determine the influence of the type of abuse experienced (e.g., physical, sexual, psychological) on intentions to seek help. Limitations and implications are discussed.
