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Evaluation of Support Over Silence for KIDS: A Bystander Training Program to Address Public Child Maltreatment

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Abstract

Support Over Silence for KIDS is a training program that equips bystanders with confidence and skills to defuse challenging moments between caregivers and their children in public. The purpose of this study was to assess the satisfaction with and effectiveness of Support Over Silence for KIDS within three training settings: a community organization, university, and children’s hospital. Participants completed pre-program and follow-up assessments to capture demographic characteristics and change in behaviors, attitudes, self-efficacy, and perceived barriers related to bystander intervention. Participants completed an immediate post-program questionnaire to assess program satisfaction and post-program intentions. Univariate statistics were used to describe the demographic characteristics of the sample, bystander behaviors, and program satisfaction. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to assess change between pre-program and follow-up. Sixty-six adults participated in the training program. Favorable outcomes were demonstrated at post-program for satisfaction with the program, future bystander intentions, and self-efficacy for bystander intervention. At follow-up, participants reported more favorable attitudes toward bystander intervention and significantly increased self-efficacy for intervention despite acknowledged barriers. Participants reported increased bystander intervention; at follow-up, none of the participants reported avoiding a challenging moment between a caregiver and their child in public. Support Over Silence for KIDS was effective in promoting supportive bystander intervention with caregivers navigating challenging interactions with their children in public. A bystander training program may help community members, university students, and hospital personnel respond in a positive way to caregiver struggles and create an environment where caregivers and their children feel supported.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the participating community members, university students, and hospital personnel for their meaningful contributions to this research. We also thank the following individuals for their significant contributions to Support Over Silence for KIDS: Lindsay Maunz, Allie Diltz, Karen Nolte, Jessica Dederer, Jess Cowl, Zenique Gardner-Perry, Barbara Gubser, and Beth Moore.

Funding

This work was supported by the Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH), Grant No. 16–0421-CF-16 (PI: Nancy Weaver). The research and the contents of this manuscript are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of the MFH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Behavioral Science and Health Education, College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Meghan E. Taylor & Nancy L. Weaver

  2. Department of Psychology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Terri L. Weaver

  3. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Travis M. Loux

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Child Abuse Pediatrics, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Timothy J. Kutz

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  1. Meghan E. Taylor
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  2. Nancy L. Weaver
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  4. Travis M. Loux
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  5. Timothy J. Kutz
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Correspondence to Meghan E. Taylor.

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Appendix

Appendix

Table 4 Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Tests for difference between pre-program and follow-up objectives, knowledge and attitudes items
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Table 5 Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Tests for difference between pre-program and follow-up objectives, when a caregiver threatens or yells at a child in public – self-efficacy for intervention items
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Table 6 Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Tests for difference between pre-program and follow-up objectives, when a caregiver threatens or yells at a child in public – self-efficacy for intervention with barriers, a
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Table 7 Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Tests for difference between pre-program and follow-up objectives, when a caregiver threatens or yells at a child in public – self-efficacy for intervention with barriers, b
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Table 8 Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Tests for difference between pre-program and follow-up objectives, when a caregiver physically hurts a child in public – self-efficacy for intervention items
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Table 9 Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Tests for difference between pre-program and follow-up objectives, when a caregiver physically hurts a child in public – self-efficacy for intervention with barriers, a
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Table 10 Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Tests for difference between pre-program and follow-up objectives, when a caregiver physically hurts a child in public – self-efficacy for intervention with barriers, b
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Taylor, M.E., Weaver, N.L., Weaver, T.L. et al. Evaluation of Support Over Silence for KIDS: A Bystander Training Program to Address Public Child Maltreatment. J Fam Viol 38, 309–320 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-022-00376-8

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