A Review of Hazing Prevention Efforts in the United States Military

Abstract

This scoping review evaluates hazing prevention efforts within the United States (U.S.) military, outlining existing programs and providing recommendations for future initiatives. Relevant studies were sourced through electronic bibliographic database searches and reference reviews of pertinent literature. The search yielded 95 studies, of which 16 met the inclusion criteria. To understand the literature in reference to the current hazing prevention efforts in the civilian sector, these studies were categorized according to the Hazing Prevention Framework (HPF) – a comprehensive, evidence-based approach structure most commonly used for addressing the behavior– components, which include: (1) commitment, (2) capacity, (3) cultural competence, (4) assessment, (5) planning, (6) evaluation, (7) sustainability, and (8) implementation. Current Department of Defense efforts primarily focus on commitment, capacity, and assessment, while cultural competence, planning, evaluation, sustainability, and implementation require further development. Strengthening military hazing prevention initiatives by incorporating all HPF components is essential to effectively addressing and reducing hazing behaviors among service members.