Hooking-Up & Three Forms of Sexual Victimization Among College Women: Examining Moderators of Risk

• In Event: Victimization in College Contexts

Abstract

Hooking-up among college students presents an increased risk for sexual victimization, perhaps due to increased contact with potential perpetrators in a risky context (Schwartz & Pitts, 1995). The purpose of this study is to address gaps in previous work by exploring childhood abuse, sexual minority (SM) status, Greek membership, and alcohol use as potential moderators of the association between hooking-up and three forms of sexual victimization: coerced, incapacitated, and forced. Using data from 702 college women, analyses demonstrate that SM status increased the negative effect of hooking-up on verbal coercion and forced contact. SM women may be overly eroticized by partners and thus face increased risk of victimization when frequently hooking-up. Harsh parenting moderated the effect of hooking-up on incapacitation so that women who experienced harsh parenting were at an increased risk for victimization only when hook-up frequency was low. Results indicate that hooking-up is particularly risky for incapacitated sexual assault regardless of past trauma. However, it is possible that women who experience abusive parenting are less apt at recognizing signs of potential perpetration by non-casual partners. The other test variables did not moderate the effect of hooking-up on any of the outcomes but many exerted main effects.

Authors

• Tara E. Sutton, Mississippi State University

• Leslie Gordon Simons, University of Georgia