Typical Alcohol Use and Bystander Intervention: The Mediating Roles of Comfort With Sexism and Bystander Efficacy Among Navy Service Members

Sexual violence and alcohol use are significant public health issues, with particularly high prevalences in the military. Bystander intervention is an evidence-based approach to prevent sexual assault; however, alcohol use can interfere with bystander behavior. Prior research with male college students suggests that heavier alcohol use may affect bystander intentions and behaviors indirectly by influencing attitudes that promote sexual violence and discourage bystander intervention, such as comfort with sexism. The aim of the present study was to examine whether typical patterns of alcohol use were indirectly associated with bystander intention to intervene through comfort with sexism and bystander efficacy. Participants were 500 enlisted active-duty Navy service members, aged 18 and 24 years, who completed an anonymous online survey. A serial mediation model was examined in the full sample and then separately for men and women. Results indicated that the effect of typical alcohol use on bystander intentions to intervene was serially mediated by comfort with sexism and bystander efficacy. Specifically, greater typical alcohol use was associated with greater comfort with sexism, which in turn was associated with lower bystander efficacy, leading to lower bystander intentions to intervene. Results were consistent for both men and women when examined separately. Sexual assault prevention efforts for service members may benefit from integrated approaches that address alcohol use and comfort with sexism in addition to bystander intervention strategies.