Preventing sexual violence among adolescents and young adults

Sexual violence is a pervasive public health issue in the United States, and globally that impacts adolescents and emerging adults more than any other age demographic. The aims of this chapter are to (1) define and document the scope of sexual violence, (2) summarize literature on the etiology of sexual violence as a context for a critical, (3) review of the research on sexual violence prevention initiatives that will be used to (4) delineate implications for research, practice, and policy. We assert that a more comprehensive and synthesized set of strategies that target all key audiences for prevention work-potential victims, potential perpetrators, and potential bystanders (who we call actionists) are needed that weave together efforts across pieces of the social-ecological model.