Drinking Habits and Sexual Victimization among College Students: Risk-Avoidance Behaviors and Best Practices

• In Event: Understanding the Dynamics of Sexual Assault and System Responses

Abstract

This study seeks to understand whether risk avoidance behaviors can reduce college students’ risk of sexual victimization. Specifically, can certain behaviors exhibited while drinking, partying, and socializing (eg., avoiding drinking games, alternating between alcohol and water, counting drinks etc.) reduce college students’ risk of sexual assault victimization and completed and attempted rape. Data from the National College Health Assessment-II (Spring 2011) was used in order to determine the extent to which risk avoidance behaviors may help reduce sexual victimization among over 75,000 college students across 129 campuses in the US. Lifestyle routine-activities measures and demographic variables were added as controls to help understand what other factors may be affecting risk of victimization. Results from this analysis can help shape policies that may reduce risk of sexual victimization for college students by targeting specific risk avoidance behaviors.

Authors

• Kathryn Elvey, Plymouth State University

• Susan McNeeley, Minnesota Department of Corrections