Aiming to Reduce Injury in College Students: Predictors of Sexual Violence Perpetration from an Ecological Perspective

Background:  The effects of sexual violence are devastating and far-reaching, as severe negative consequences to well-being are often experienced by survivors of sexual violence, while also having negative effects on their interpersonal relationships and the greater community.  Further, sexual violence is a significant public health issue on college campuses, as up to half of females and 30% of males report being victimized during college. Perpetrators of college sexual violence are often serial perpetrators who are most likely acquainted with their victims.  Having a better understanding of the risks and protective factors involved in perpetration through an ecological lens is imperative for effective sexual violence prevention programming aimed at reducing the incidence of sexual violence in college.  Purpose: The purpose was to identify intrapersonal, interpersonal, and organizational predictors of perpetration in a sample of undergraduate college students. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was completed by 677 undergraduate students in a large, public university in the Southeastern United States. Results: Approximately 4.3% (n=29) of participants reported perpetrating sexual violence since starting college.  In the binary logistic regression model, gender, binge drinking, previous victimization, rape myth acceptance, and perceived peer norms significantly predicted perpetration (R²=0.287).  Discussion: Previous victimization was the strongest predictor of perpetration, suggesting that prevention efforts may need to start at a younger age, and that previous victimization should be addressed as a factor in sexual violence in college programming.  Further, there is a need to address additional environmental risk factors that contribute to sexual violence perpetration.