Risk Factors for Sexual Violence Among College Students in Dating Relationships: An Ecological Approach

Bhochhibhoya, Shristi; Maness, Sarah B.; Cheney, Marshall K.; Larson, Daniel J.

doi:10.1177/0886260519835875

Cited by 36 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 101 publications

(236 reference statements)

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“…The strongest predicators of sexual victimization identified in this study were: perceiving one’s financial situation as difficult, self-identifying as LGB+, and belonging to multiple minority groups. Further, in line with previous studies in the general population, we found being female (as assigned at birth) and being younger to increase the odds of sexual victimization (see among others: [ 7 , 8 , 10 , 101 ]). This study confirms that persons who belong to a minority group possess more characteristics that make them vulnerable to sexual victimization.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…These interacting factors increase or reduce the risk for SV exposure and can lead to (re)victimization, perpetration, or both [ 7 ]. The available evidence shows that people are more at risk of sexual victimization while they are younger, when they were assigned the female sex at birth and/or identify as a woman; when they were previously exposed to (in)direct violent experiences; when they have physical and/or mental health problems or are dependent on others for care; when they show risk behavior, such as harmful alcohol abuse, drug use, and risky sexual behavior; and when they report lower educational levels and socio-economic status [ 3 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. On a community and societal level, gender inequality, ruling gender norms, ideologies about male sexual entitlement, rape myth acceptance, legal frameworks targeted at sanctioning sexual perpetration etc., are identified as common drivers for creating contexts in which SV occurs [ 7 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Minority Identity, Othering-Based Stress, and Sexual Violence

Schrijver

Fomenko

Krahé

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Background: Some (minority) groups (MGs) are more vulnerable to sexual violence (SV) exposure than others. Othering-based stress (OBS) may mediate the relationship between minority identification and SV. This study aims to assess the prevalence of SV in different MGs to explore the relationship between minority identification and SV, to investigate whether belonging to multiple MGs moderates this relationship, and to explore OBS SV moderation for different MGs. Method: Through an online survey administered to a nationally representative sample in Belgium, data was collected from 4632 persons, of whom 21.01% self-identified as belonging to a MG (SI-Minority). SV prevalence was measured using behaviorally specific questions based on the WHO definition of SV. SI-Minority participants received an additional scale on OBS. Results: SI-Minority participants reported more SV victimization compared to the non-minorities. However, this increased risk was not moderated by minority identification but linked to the socio-demographic SV risk markers common to minority individuals. Multiple-minority participants were found more at risk of SV compared to single-minority respondents. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, pan-/omnisexual, asexual, and other non-heterosexual (LGB+) participants were found more at risk than heterosexual participants. OBS was found to be significantly correlated to SV in sexual and gender minorities and in cultural minorities. Conclusions: This study contributes to our understanding of the relationship between minority identification, OBS, and SV. Studying both specific and common SV vulnerabilities and outcomes within specific societal subgroups and the general population may inform policy makers when allocating resources to those interventions with the largest societal impact.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Minority Identity, Othering-Based Stress, and Sexual Violence

Schrijver

Fomenko

Krahé

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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“…Peer-to-peer sexual violence at higher education institutions (HEIs)—organizations providing postsecondary or tertiary levels of education—is a serious public health concern ( Mellins et al, 2017 ). Women attending HEIs face a higher risk of experiencing sexual violence when compared to men and when compared to women not attending HEIs ( Bhochhibhoya et al, 2019 ; Degue et al, 2014 ; Gonzales et al, 2005 ; Zinzow & Thompson, 2015 ). A recent meta-analysis of research on sexual violence at HEIs in the United States estimates that over 20% of women have experienced unwanted sexual contact and that 0.5%–8.4% of women have experienced rape ( Fedina et al, 2018 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk and Protective Factors for Men’s Sexual Violence Against Women at Higher Education Institutions: A Systematic and Meta-Analytic Review of the Longitudinal Evidence

Steele

Martin

Yakubovich

et al. 2020

Trauma, Violence, & Abuse

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Sexual violence among higher education institution (HEI) students is a growing public health concern. To date, there is little evidence on how to effectively prevent sexual violence among this demographic. This study is the first systematic review to meta-analyze all available evidence for risk and protective factors of sexual violence perpetrated by men at HEIs. We searched four electronic databases and multiple gray literature sources. We screened studies using prespecified selection criteria for the sample (HEI students who identify as men), outcome (sexual violence perpetration against peers), and study design (quantitative and longitudinal). Longitudinal studies provide the most rigorous available evidence on risk and protective factors. We identified 16 studies and meta-analyzed eight different risk factors: alcohol consumption, hostility toward women, delinquency, fraternity membership, history of sexual violence perpetration, rape myth acceptance, age at first sex, and peer approval of sexual violence. We deemed included studies to have a varied risk of bias and the overall quality of evidence to range from moderate to high. History of sexual violence perpetration (perpetration prior to entering an HEI) emerged as the strongest predictor of sexual violence perpetration at HEIs, complicating the notion that HEI environments themselves foster a culture of sexual violence. Peer support for sexual violence predicted perpetration while individual rape-supporting beliefs did not. Our findings suggest that interventions targeting peer norms (e.g., bystander interventions) and early sexual violence prevention and consent interventions for high school and elementary school students could be effective in reducing and preventing sexual violence at HEIs.

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“…Sexual victimization occurs across the life span, from early childhood into late adulthood; 6 however, sexual violence research commonly uses 'arbitrary age cutoffs' (p. 814), 35 which makes comparisons of findings challenging and contributes to inconsistencies in relation to university student victimization studies. For example, some studies enquired about sexual violence of students during their undergraduate studies, 9,36,37 while others used undergraduate and postgraduate students as participants. 9 Few studies ask university students about experiences of sexual victimization in childhood with discrepancies observed in relation to age cut-off.…”

Section: Sexual Victimization In Childhood And/or Adulthoodmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most campus surveys are designed with a particular student body in mind. For example, the study by Solinas-Saunders et al 40 included participants aged between 16 and 79 years who were not living on the university campus, whereas study by Bhochhibhoya et al 36 focused on undergraduate university students who experienced sexual violence by a dating partner. On the contrary, the CQUniversity survey targeted students' attitudes and experiences of sexual violence from the age of 12 years across undergraduate, postgraduate, and vocational students across all of its campuses in Australia regardless of their study mode (on-campus, online, residential, and non-residential).…”

Section: The Present Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Silencing by design: Lessons learned about child sexual abuse from a university sexual assault survey

Guggisberg

Haldane

Lowik

et al. 2021

Womens Health (Lond Engl)

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Background: University students have been recognized as particularly being vulnerable to sexual victimization. Purpose: With little research to date, and acknowledgement for the need of a better understanding of sexual violence, our study analysed the CQUniversity Sexual Assault Survey’s qualitative responses. An open-ended qualitative question allowed students to provide information anonymously. Methods: A total of 109 participants contributed responses with 17 respondents commenting on the fact that the survey omitted to ask about child sexual abuse prior to the cut-off age of 12 years. Results: University students revealed unexpected disclosures of prepubescent child sexual abuse victimization and ongoing sexual victimization into adulthood. Furthermore, students’ comments indicated negative impacts including distress, mental health and substance use problems, distrust, and interpersonal difficulties. Strong feelings about ‘silencing’ prepubescent child sexual abuse in university surveys were expressed with a request that questions about child sexual abuse prior to the age of 12 years be included. Conclusion: Our study found that child sexual abuse victimization is important to students. Recommendations indicate the need for future research about sexual violence among university students without age restrictions to gain a better understanding about the impact of trauma including revictimization experiences.

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Risk Factors for Sexual Violence Among College Students in Dating Relationships: An Ecological Approach

Cited by 36 publications

References 101 publications

Minority Identity, Othering-Based Stress, and Sexual Violence

Minority Identity, Othering-Based Stress, and Sexual Violence

Risk and Protective Factors for Men’s Sexual Violence Against Women at Higher Education Institutions: A Systematic and Meta-Analytic Review of the Longitudinal Evidence

Silencing by design: Lessons learned about child sexual abuse from a university sexual assault survey

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