Physical Spaces for Campus Sexual Violence Prevention: A Conceptual Model

Abstract

As a part of socio-ecological approaches to campus sexual violence prevention, there is a call for greater attention to the role of the environment. Despite this, physical space, an aspect of the built environment, is understudied. There is a lack of models for the ways physical space can help facilitate prevention efforts on campus. Disciplines such as criminology have put forth theories such as crime prevention through environmental design, which offer a foundation for application to college campuses but which require modification. The current model draws from reviews of research, theory, and critiques of work on the prevention and the physical environment to present a strengths-centered, social justice–based model for campuses to incorporate the consideration of physical spaces into sexual violence prevention planning.