Many college students experience the death of someone close to them and could be at risk for complicated grieving. Their primary sources of support may be unavailable as family members may live far away and their peers may be unprepared to respond to their grief. In addition, college students are exposed to a variety of stressors that could result in maladaptive coping. Furthermore, although most college-aged students use social media, little is known about its impact on grieving. The purpose of this study was to examine the degree to which social support, coping, continuing bonds, and social media use predicted complicated grief and posttraumatic growth in a sample of college students who had experienced an interpersonal loss. Participants (N = 258; 77.5% female, M age = 19.98, SD = 1.41) completed an online survey assessing the aforementioned constructs using Likert-type scales. Findings from two hierarchical regressions indicated that coping variables accounted for the greatest percentage of variance in grieving outcomes with avoidant-emotional coping being the most robust predictor of complicated grief and problem-focused coping accounting for considerable variance in posttraumatic growth (both were associated positively with the outcomes). As hypothesized, continuing bonds explained variance in both grieving outcomes with externalized continuing bonds and maintaining continuing bonds on social media predicting complicated grief and internalized continuing bonds contributing to posttraumatic growth (also all positively associated). Social support from family also was predictive of posttraumatic growth in the positive direction. Future research directions and implications for practice are discussed with the hope that this research might inform the development of interventions to assist college students who are grieving.
Rape myths are false beliefs about rape, rape victims, and/or perpetrators of rape that perpetuate a culture where sexual violence is excused. Martha Burt created the first measure of rape myth acceptance in 1980 and since then scholars have continuously updated our understanding of rape myths with a continued focus on rape perpetrated by men against women. While this focus is critical due to the prevalence of such violence, this exclusive focus risks ignoring other vulnerable groups, including the LGBTQþ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer) community. The current study aimed to expand the current measurement of rape myth acceptance beyond heteronormativity and the gender binary allowing for a representative measure of rape myth acceptance for LGBTQþ, heterosexual, and cisgender communities alike. To achieve this goal, the modified Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (IRMAS) was altered to remove gendered language (e.g., he or she) and replaced with gender-inclusive language (e.g., they). Utilizing the gender-inclusive version of the modified IRMAS, data were collected from 575 ( 375LGBTQþ, 250 non-LGBTQþ) participants via Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk). A confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated stability of factor structure with five separate factors: Victim asked for it, Didn't mean to, Didn't mean to-specific to intoxication, It was not really rape, and Victim lied, underlying the overall latent factor. Further analysis supported measurement invariance of the gender-inclusive IRMAS across LGBTQþ membership. The results provide initial evidence for a gender-inclusive rape myth acceptance scale, which increases inclusivity and representation for individuals who are particularly vulnerable to victimization. Public Significance StatementThe gender inclusive version of the modified Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale allows researchers, clinicians, and educators to assess the extent to which individuals' hold false beliefs about rape (e.g., people often lie about being raped) in an inclusive manner where queer and gender nonbinary folks can see themselves represented in the items. We hope the incorporation of this scale can inform inclusive rape prevention research, intervention, and advocacy.
Initial evidence suggests that rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) increased at the beginning of the COVID‐19 pandemic. However, much of the prevalence research has focused on survivors’ experiences of IPV during the initial lockdown period from March to June 2020. The current study adds to this initial research by centering the experience of a domestic violence agency located in the United States, 3‐months prior to, during, and after the COVID‐19 lockdown. The results suggest a similar pattern across service utilization (e.g., total clients served, calls, safe house capacity) and survivor demographics (e.g., race/ethnicity, cisgender women and men), with an initial decrease in service utilization from pre‐lockdown to lockdown and an increase, surpassing pre‐lockdown, post‐lockdown. The only deviations from this pattern of service utilization were for sexual minority individuals, whose service utilization continued to decline post‐lockdown and Asian American/Pacific Islander and trans/gender‐nonbinary survivors who rarely utilized services across the time period. Additionally, the domestic violence agency relied heavily on their existing finances, well‐rounded staff training, and staff wellbeing throughout the pandemic. The unique challenges that COVID‐19 provided demanded flexibility, increased technological utilization, and additional funding particularly for safe housing. Implications for future research, intervention, and policy change are provided below.
Faculty, staff, and students employed by or who serve as representative of universities in the United States are required by the Title IX federal law to report all instances of sexual harassment, discrimination, and sexual assault on college campuses. Despite the well-intended purpose of the Title IX regulations, less is known about campus communities’ experiences and perceptions of this “mandated reporting,” and its influence on disclosure. This exploratory mixed-methods study examines student ( n = 88) and faculty and staff ( n = 77) thoughts, concerns, and experiences regarding this policy at a mid-sized Northeastern University. Participants were recruited utilizing a campus lab system, with supplemental recruitment through student-life offices on campus. Data were collected via an anonymous survey hosted on the Qualtrics platform. Descriptive statistics were conducted for quantitative responses, whereas thematic analysis was utilized to analyze open text responses. Descriptive statistics demonstrate that the majority of participants (students and faculty/staff) were aware of their “mandated reporter” status. Additionally, students and faculty/staff varied regarding their support of the policy and the majority of faculty/staff had not had students disclose sexual violence to them and thus, had not reported any incidences of sexual violence to the university. Results of the thematic analysis further highlight the complexity of students and faculty/staff views’ regarding the “mandated reporter” policy illustrating positive and negative perceived impacts of this policy, as well as several suggestions for improvement. Implications for research and practice are framed within the literature on Title IX, sexual harassment, and violence in the context of universities.
The present study examines an understudied potential warning sign of school shootings: violence against women (VAW). Utilizing the social-ecological model of violence prevention, we employed directed content analysis to determine the prevalence of acts and social-ecological features of VAW among profiles of 59 boys/men who perpetrated school shootings between 1966 and 2018. The majority of shootings profiled occurred in the United States (47, 79.7%), followed by Canada (five, 8.5%), Finland (two, 3.4%), Germany (two, 3.4%), Brazil (one, 1.7%), Scotland (one, 1.7%), and Ukraine (one, 1.7%). Results demonstrated a strong presence of VAW among profiled school shooters, with almost 70% perpetrating VAW and the identification of frequent features of VAW that cut across the social-ecological levels, most notably (the enactment of and failure to meet expectations of) hegemonic masculinity and normalization of violence. Implications for research and intervention are discussed. Public Significance StatementNearly 70% of profiled school shooters perpetrated acts of violence against women, including intimate partner violence and sexual assault. Thus, violence against women and its related social-ecological features, including hegemonic masculinity (e.g., expectations of toughness, antifemininity, and status among men, as well as the failure to meet these expectations) and normalization of violence (e.g., ignoring everyday acts of violence), are critical avenues for intervention in the prevention of school shootings.
The current study examines an understudied potential warning sign of school shootings: violence against women (VAW). Utilizing the social-ecological model of violence prevention, we employed the methodologies of content analysis and feminist inquiry to examine the prevalence of acts and mechanisms of VAW among profiles of 63 individuals who perpetrated school shootings between 1966 and 2018. Results demonstrated a strong presence of VAW among profiled school shooters, with almost 70% perpetrating VAW and the identification of frequent mechanisms of VAW that cut across the social-ecological levels, most notably hegemonic masculinity. Implications for research and intervention are discussed.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.