Unwanted Sexual Contact on Campus: A Comparison of Women's and Men's Experiences

• NCJ Number: 218053
• Journal: Violence and Victims Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Dated: 2007 Pages: 52-70
• Author(s): Victoria L. Banyard Ph.D.; S. Ward Ph.D.; E. S. Cohn Ph.D.; E. G. Plante M.S.; C. Moorhead Ph.D.; W. Walsh Ph.D.
• Date Published: 2007
• Length: 19 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: University of New Hampshire
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study surveyed 651 men and women undergraduate college students about unwanted sexual experiences during one academic year.

Abstract

Consistent with the literature on sexual abuse, the study found that women reported higher rates of unwanted sexual contact than men; however, this finding contradicted recent studies of male sexual assault victims, which reported similar rates for both men and women. Although women reported a higher rate of unwanted sexual contact, men who reported such contacts described them as being similar to those experienced by women. Risk was associated with social gatherings and perpetration by friends and dating partners. The study also found that the negative consequences of these unwanted sexual contacts were similar for both men and women. Both genders also reported low rates of disclosure of the contacts. Women were more likely to be familiar with campus support services and to have attended a prevention program. The findings suggest the importance of educating college students (both male and female) about the risk of unwanted sexual contacts linked to partying/drinking with friends and dating partners. The study sample was drawn from students enrolled in undergraduate courses at a State university in New England. Students were randomly selected from courses. Out of a total of 1,298 surveys distributed, 651 were completed. The survey measured unwanted sexual experiences. These were defined as "attempting or actually kissing, fondling, or touching someone in a sexual or intimate way, excluding sexual intercourse." "Unwanted" contact was defined as "those situations in which you were certain at the time that you did not want to engage in the sexual experience and you communicated this in some way." Other variables measured pertained to characteristics of the experiences, disclosure, consequences, and knowledge of support services. 8 tables, 2 figures, and 63 references