Who do we model? A brief report comparing different sources of normative influence on adolescent bystander intervention

Adolescence is a critical period of development in which various socializing relationships can play an important role in shaping behavior. This study examined adolescents’ bystander helping in relation to their perceived norms supporting intervention in dating and sexual violence situations across four different norm-referent groups. Survey questions asked about students’ bystander behavior and perceptions of bystander norms based on whether the norm was endorsed by friends, parents, teachers, and people in town. Paper-and-pencil surveys were completed during the school day by high school students (N = 609) in three different towns in northern New England. We used multinomial logistic regression to compare the impact of different norms on bystander behavior. Friend- and parent-referent bystander norms were both individually associated with increased helping behaviors. Multivariate analysis found only friend-referent norms were significantly related to more frequent helping behaviors. The implications of these results can inform norms-based prevention programs for adolescents.