Overview
I am a social psychologist with an interest in violence prevention.
Areas of expertise: behaviour change, aggressive behaviour, violence prevention, bystander interventions, systematic reviews, qualitative and quantitative research in social sciences.
As part of my PhD I was involved in the Bystander Intervention in Football and Sports project as the principal evaluator. During my PhD I was a Postgraduate Research Representative for the Institute of Health Research at the University of Exeter Medical School, and worked as the Postgraduate Teaching Assistant at the College of Life and Environmental Sciences. I was also the PsyPAG Representative to the BPS South West of England Branch.
Outside of work, my interests include travelling, playing ukulele, and painting.
I was also the University Coordinator of the Pint of Science Festival 2019 and 2020 in Exeter, and the Chair of the organising committee of the SWDTP Conference 2018 in Bristol.
Qualifications
PhD in Medical Studies (University of Exeter Medical School)
MSc Social and Organisational Psychology (University of Exeter)
Mini-MBA (Management & Marketing Universal Business School)
BA (Hons) Psychology and Social Work (Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv)
Career
In 2012 I obtained my BA in Psychology and Social Work from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. During my study, I was employed as a Trade Union Organiser at the University. To satisfy my training needs in social psychology, I then applied to the University of Exeter. During my MSc at the University of Exeter, I developed a particular interest in aggressive behaviour and bystander approach to violence regulation.
After graduation, I returned to Ukraine where I was working as a Social Media Marketing Manager and Administrator for a UK-based company. In 2014 I obtained an intensive mini-MBA from MMU Business School (online short course) and received my News Presenter Certificate. It took me 4 years to understand that academia was my calling in life. In 2017 I successfully applied for the Exeter International Excellence Scholarship for Postgraduate Research and was part of the Institute of Health Research at the University of Exeter Medical School. I am currently employed at two universities - University of Bristol and University of Exeter.
Research group links
Research
Research projects
Kovalenko, A. G., Abraham, C., Graham-Rowe, E., Levine, M., & O’Dwyer, S. (2020). What Works in Violence Prevention Among Young People?: A Systematic Review of Reviews. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838020939130
Levine, M., Philpot, R., Kovalenko A.G. (2019). Rethinking the Bystander Effect in Violence Reduction Training Programs, Social Issues and Policy Review, 0(00), 1-24. DOI: 10.1111/sipr.12063
A whole-system multi-agency approach to serious violence prevention. A resource for local system leaders in England. (2019). Retrievable from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-serious-violence-a-multi-agency-approach
Publications
Key publications | Publications by category | Publications by year
Publications by category
Journal articles
Kovalenko AG, Fenton RA (2024). Bystander Intervention in Football and Sports. A Quasi-Experimental Feasibility Study of a Bystander Violence Prevention Program in the United Kingdom.
Journal of Interpersonal ViolenceAbstract:
Bystander Intervention in Football and Sports. A Quasi-Experimental Feasibility Study of a Bystander Violence Prevention Program in the United Kingdom
in recent years, social campaigns and high-profile cases have brought increased attention to violence against women. Athletes can be role models, shaping both prosocial and antisocial attitudes. Their engagement in violence prevention could be an effective tool to tackle violence against women through bystander intervention. This part of a mixed-method feasibility study reports on the quantitative evaluation of an evidence-led bystander program, Football Onside, implemented at a football club in South West England in June 2018 to February 2020. The study employed a quasi-experimental design with intervention and control groups. Football coaches and club members ( n = 50) completed measures of rape and domestic abuse myths, bystander intent and efficacy, self-reported bystander behaviors, readiness for change, perceptions of peer helping and myth acceptance, law knowledge, and program evaluation. Fidelity was also assessed. The analysis compared between- and within-group differences in mean changes over time using mixed-effects models. Participant ratings of learning outcomes were high, and fidelity was maintained throughout the intervention. Between-group comparison revealed mixed results, with greater improvements in the intervention group for bystander intent and efficacy at post-test and follow-up, domestic abuse myths at post-test, and rape myth acceptance at follow-up. Model contrasts for within intervention group revealed improvements in rape and domestic abuse myth acceptance, bystander intent and efficacy, perceived law knowledge at both time points, and perceived peer myths and helping at post-test. At follow-up, intervention participants reported significantly higher engagement in bystander behaviors. No significant effects were found for perceived importance of legal knowledge. Our research highlights the potential efficacy of a bystander program tailored for football club members. Cluster-randomized control trials are now required to examine bystander attitudes and behavior change processes among professional athletes.
Abstract.
Kovalenko AG, Abraham C, Graham-Rowe E, Levine M, O’Dwyer S (2020). What Works in Violence Prevention Among Young People?: a Systematic Review of Reviews.
Trauma, Violence, & Abuse,
23(5), 1388-1404.
Abstract:
What Works in Violence Prevention Among Young People?: a Systematic Review of Reviews
Violence prevention programs aim to raise awareness, change attitudes, normative beliefs, motivation, and behavioral responses. Many programs have been developed and evaluated, and optimistic claims about effectiveness made. Yet comprehensive guidance on program design, implementation, and evaluation is limited. The aim of this study was to provide an up-to-date review of evidence on what works for whom. A systematic search of PsycINFO, MEDLINE, ERIC, and Sociology Collection ProQuest identified 40 reviews and meta-analyses reporting on the effectiveness of violence prevention programs among young people (age 15–30) in educational institutions, published before October 2018. These included reviews of programs designed to reduce (i) bullying, (ii) dating and relationship violence, (iii) sexual assault, and (iv) antisocial behavior. Only evaluations that reported on behavioral outcomes such as perpetration, victimization, and bystander behavior were included. The reviewed evaluations reported on programs that were mainly implemented in high-income countries in Europe and North America. The majority found small effects on violence reduction and victimization and increases in self-reported bystander behavior. Our findings expose critical gaps in evaluation research in this area and provide recommendations on how to optimize the effectiveness of future programs.
Abstract.
Publications by year
2024
Kovalenko AG, Fenton RA (2024). Bystander Intervention in Football and Sports. A Quasi-Experimental Feasibility Study of a Bystander Violence Prevention Program in the United Kingdom.
Journal of Interpersonal ViolenceAbstract:
Bystander Intervention in Football and Sports. A Quasi-Experimental Feasibility Study of a Bystander Violence Prevention Program in the United Kingdom
in recent years, social campaigns and high-profile cases have brought increased attention to violence against women. Athletes can be role models, shaping both prosocial and antisocial attitudes. Their engagement in violence prevention could be an effective tool to tackle violence against women through bystander intervention. This part of a mixed-method feasibility study reports on the quantitative evaluation of an evidence-led bystander program, Football Onside, implemented at a football club in South West England in June 2018 to February 2020. The study employed a quasi-experimental design with intervention and control groups. Football coaches and club members ( n = 50) completed measures of rape and domestic abuse myths, bystander intent and efficacy, self-reported bystander behaviors, readiness for change, perceptions of peer helping and myth acceptance, law knowledge, and program evaluation. Fidelity was also assessed. The analysis compared between- and within-group differences in mean changes over time using mixed-effects models. Participant ratings of learning outcomes were high, and fidelity was maintained throughout the intervention. Between-group comparison revealed mixed results, with greater improvements in the intervention group for bystander intent and efficacy at post-test and follow-up, domestic abuse myths at post-test, and rape myth acceptance at follow-up. Model contrasts for within intervention group revealed improvements in rape and domestic abuse myth acceptance, bystander intent and efficacy, perceived law knowledge at both time points, and perceived peer myths and helping at post-test. At follow-up, intervention participants reported significantly higher engagement in bystander behaviors. No significant effects were found for perceived importance of legal knowledge. Our research highlights the potential efficacy of a bystander program tailored for football club members. Cluster-randomized control trials are now required to examine bystander attitudes and behavior change processes among professional athletes.
Abstract.
Kovalenko A (2024). Violence Prevention Interventions: Change Processes and. Programme Effectiveness.
Abstract:
Violence Prevention Interventions: Change Processes and. Programme Effectiveness.
Recent empirical research acknowledged that violence prevention strategies have produced mixed results, and despite the decades of research it is still unclear what works to prevent interpersonal violence and violence against women. What is known, however, is that bystander programmes may be an effective strategy to improve knowledge and attitudes and have been implemented predominantly on university campuses. Many of such programmes target all-male groups as there is an evidence of a relationship between fraternity or sports membership and sexual violence perpetration. It is surprising, however, that with the increased reports of high profile cases, no such primary prevention programmes have been evaluated in a professional sports setting. This thesis aimed to identify programme features that proved to be effective in the prevention of interpersonal violence and synthesise the recommendations for programme developers and evaluators; to identify the preliminary effectiveness of the bystander programme adapted from a university setting into a real-life professional sport setting in the UK and determine whether it was acceptable and usable; and to explore the social and psychological mechanisms in football coaches and players that might facilitate bystander behaviour. A systematic review of reviews of violence prevention programmes was first conducted to identify what works in violence prevention on college and university campuses. The review synthesised the recommendations on programme development, implementation and evaluation. The evaluation recommendations were utilised during the quasi-experimental feasibility study of the first bystander programme at a Football Club and Community Trust in the UK. A mixed-method approach was employed to data collection, which included pre- and post-test semi-structured interviews, pre-post-follow-up questionnaires, anonymous open-ended feedback sheets, and fidelity observations. The systematic review critically appraised and synthesised evidence on programmes that aimed to prevent bullying, sexual violence, domestic abuse, and antisocial behaviour. The recommendations on programme evaluation informed the feasibility study. The quantitative outcome evaluation reported on changes in participants’ (n=34) self-reported attitudes towards sexual violence and domestic abuse as follows: significant long-term improvements were observed in intervention participants’ bystander intent, self-efficacy and rape myth acceptance, and significant short-term improvements in domestic abuse myth acceptance, compared with control group (n=26). No changes were found for other outcomes, including behaviour. The qualitative feasibility evaluation showed that the programme was well-received, however there was room for improvement. In particular, much attention should be paid to facilitator training, and extracurricular sessions should be considered. The exploration of behaviour change processes – the social and psychological mechanisms underpinning behaviour change – showed that they mapped well onto the Bystander Decision-Making model (Latané & Darley, 1970), but new findings were also observed and should be explored with regard to the Social Identity Approach and workplace norms. This work exposes critical gaps in the field and highlights the importance of using a mixed-methods approach in programme evaluation. The thesis discusses theoretical, methodological and practical implications for future development, evaluation, and implementation of violence prevention programmes.
Abstract.
2020
Kovalenko AG, Abraham C, Graham-Rowe E, Levine M, O’Dwyer S (2020). What Works in Violence Prevention Among Young People?: a Systematic Review of Reviews.
Trauma, Violence, & Abuse,
23(5), 1388-1404.
Abstract:
What Works in Violence Prevention Among Young People?: a Systematic Review of Reviews
Violence prevention programs aim to raise awareness, change attitudes, normative beliefs, motivation, and behavioral responses. Many programs have been developed and evaluated, and optimistic claims about effectiveness made. Yet comprehensive guidance on program design, implementation, and evaluation is limited. The aim of this study was to provide an up-to-date review of evidence on what works for whom. A systematic search of PsycINFO, MEDLINE, ERIC, and Sociology Collection ProQuest identified 40 reviews and meta-analyses reporting on the effectiveness of violence prevention programs among young people (age 15–30) in educational institutions, published before October 2018. These included reviews of programs designed to reduce (i) bullying, (ii) dating and relationship violence, (iii) sexual assault, and (iv) antisocial behavior. Only evaluations that reported on behavioral outcomes such as perpetration, victimization, and bystander behavior were included. The reviewed evaluations reported on programs that were mainly implemented in high-income countries in Europe and North America. The majority found small effects on violence reduction and victimization and increases in self-reported bystander behavior. Our findings expose critical gaps in evaluation research in this area and provide recommendations on how to optimize the effectiveness of future programs.
Abstract.
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