303455
Sexual assault on campus: Prevalence, perceived vulnerability and alcohol
The true level of sexual assault and harassment in university campuses is unknown due largely to chronic underreporting. This is particularly true of “lower-level” sexual harassment, which is rarely recorded but may have lasting consequences for those involved and the normative landscape of the institution. Furthermore, student perceptions of vulnerability to sexual assault are unclear, particularly with regards their relationship to alcohol. The current study examines the prevalence of sexual assault and harassment in a university campus, and relates these to issues of vulnerability and alcohol.
Methods
An online survey was completed by 175 students (135 females) at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. Items included personal experience of forms of sexual harassment and assault, perception of own and peers’ vulnerability to sexual assault, and AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test).
Results/outcomes
Females judged themselves to be more vulnerable to sexual assault than did males, and females reported more experiences of harassment and assault than males. Participants perceived themselves as significantly less vulnerable than same-gender peers, and judged peers to significantly underestimate their own vulnerability. AUDIT scores did not predict judgements of own vulnerability, but they did predict reported experiences of sexual harassment and assault in females.
Conclusions
The analysis suggests that forms of sexual harassment were common experiences for female students, and that students misperceived their own vulnerability to sexual assault. Furthermore, whilst female participants’ relationship to alcohol did predict experiences of forms of assault, this was not reflected in their judged vulnerability, again suggesting a misperception.
Learning Areas:
EpidemiologyPublic health or related education
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Describe the issue of sexual assault on the university campus, and concerns regarding under-reporting
Discuss the role of alcohol in perceived vulnerability to sexual assault and harassment
Discuss how the findings can be used to inform intervention efforts to address sexual assault and harassment on the university campus
Keyword(s): Violence & Injury Prevention, Sexual Assault
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been involved in public health research in relation to alcohol and violence for over ten years and have authored several papers on alcohol interventions involving patients and on the prevalence of alcohol related violence and trauma in Scotland. I have also been involved in several studies on sobriety testing, of which this paper forms part, and am involved in the training of health professionals in dealing with rape and sexual assault.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.