When “Yes Means Yes”: Short-Term Effects of an Educational Video on Acceptance of Ideals Related to Affirmative Sexual Consent Among Young Adults

Abstract

Sexual violence is a prevalent problem impacting college students across the United States. One of the prevention efforts suggested to deal with this concern is to better educate young adults about the ideals of sexual consent. Specifically, many colleges and universities have focused their attention to promote the practice of an affirmative sexual consent standard. Using the theory of planned behavior as the theoretical framework, an experimental study was conducted to test the effectiveness of a short educational video on increasing participants’ acceptance of an affirmative consent standard related to sexual consent, as reflected in more positive attitudes, norms, and greater perceptions of behavioral control related to the enactment of affirmative consent within sexual interactions. Participants were also asked about their endorsement of an indirect approach to sexual consent following viewing of the educational video. Overall results found support for most of the hypotheses, as the findings have practical implications for college health practitioners interested in promoting healthier sexual beliefs, specifically the acceptance of an affirmative consent standard for sexual consent.