Resource Use After Unwanted Sexual Experiences in Undergraduates: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Factors Related to the Decision to Seek Help

Abstract

The risk for sexual victimization in college is high, and although there can be significant mental and physical consequences for the survivor, resource utilization for this issue is extremely low. The current study used the frameworks of both the ecological model and the theory of planned behavior to examine factors related to resource use in undergraduate survivors of unwanted sexual experiences. The sample consisted of 217 undergraduates who reported at least one unwanted sexual experience while in college (89% female, 76.5% Caucasian, M age 19.6). Data were collected in an online survey from a private liberal arts college, and were analyzed using decision tree modeling. Results suggested that resource use was less related to demographic or event characteristics, but rather related to victim response to the event as well as perceptions about control over potential resource use. In addition to key assault prevention efforts, it is thus important to also support survivor mental health and self-efficacy postassault.

Variables Related to Academic Help‐Seeking Behaviour in Higher Education – Findings from a Multidisciplinary Perspective

“…Most studies (n = 25) found a positive relationship, indicating that more positive attitudes towards help‐seeking are related to higher intentions to seek help and increased help‐seeking behaviour. Fleming et al (), and Miville and Constantine () could not confirm a relationship. Chang () found a positive relationship for psychological help‐seeking, but no relationship for academic‐ and career‐related help‐seeking.…”

Development of and Preliminary Evidence for a Psychological Service Barriers Measure Among College Sexual Assault Survivors

“…Rates of reporting to law enforcement have ranged from 0.6–13%, with most studies finding that fewer than 10% report to the police (e.g., Fisher et al, 2003; Krebs et al, 2007; Lindquist et al, 2013; Walsh et al, 2010; Wolitzky-Taylor et al, 2011). Only a few studies have looked at rates of reporting to campus law enforcement specifically, and the rates are generally very low: approximately 5% of survivors report the assault to Campus Police (e.g., 5.3% in Fleming et al, 2018; 4% in Nasta et al, 2005). In addition to reporting to the police, college students have the option to report the assault through their institution’s disciplinary process.…”

“…Department of Education, 1997, 2001, 2011). However, researchers have found that very few survivors report via these formal university procedures (e.g., to a “Title IX Office”), with rates ranging from 0–4.3% (e.g., Fleming et al, 2021; Khan et al, 2018; Lindquist et al, 2013).…”

“…However, research finds that many sexual assault survivors are not using these services. That is, rates of students’ use of victim advocacy services range from 1–25%, with most studies finding usage rates less than 10% (e.g., Fisher et al, 2003; Fleming et al, 2021; Krebs et al, 2007; Lindquist et al, 2013; Walsh et al, 2010; Wolitzky-Taylor et al, 2011). Fewer studies have examined student survivors’ use of campus counseling services, but rates of use tend to be slightly higher than other services (e.g., 15.2% in Fleming et al, 2021; 8% in Nasta et al, 2005; 34% in Krebs et al, 2007; 4.4–13.2% in Lindquist et al, 2013).…”

Undergraduates’ Disclosures of Unwanted Sexual Experiences: Who, Why, and When?

“…Participants in this study responded to both closed-ended surveys and open-ended free response questions. Quantitative outcomes regarding predictors of help-seeking behavior in this sample have been reported elsewhere (Fleming, Lynch, Hakas, & Belanger, 2018), and the current analysis focuses on the open-ended responses. Participants were asked to respond to the following prompts:…”