College Students’ Perceptions of Interpersonal Violence

• In Event: Understanding Rurality and Gender-based Violence

Abstract

Title IX of the Education Amendments Act requires institutions of higher education to respond to issues of sexual violence. However, research indicates that students often do not recognize behaviors characteristic of interpersonal violence unless blatantly physical in nature, even though emotional and sexual violence are equally common. Because students may not recognize these behaviors as interpersonal violence, these issues often go unreported leading to long-term consequences, including anxiety, continued victimization, depression, difficulty maintaining relationships, and/or school failure. Additionally, those residing in rural communities are less likely to acknowledge and/or report such victimization due to protecting the deeply entrenched “close-knit” relationships. This paper presents findings from a survey designed to measure undergraduate perceptions of interpersonal violence (IPV). Members of the research team attended 12 randomly selected junior and senior-level classes at a rural, liberal arts, teaching university. Students (n = 247) viewed a series of vignettes depicting both violent and non-violent forms of IPV. Analysis accounted for differences in gender; race; whether the student, or someone they know, previously experienced IPV; and whether the student previously attended a program educating students on the signs and symptoms of IPV. Findings confirm that education is effective for helping students recognize IPV. Expanding educational resources will aid on campus college administrators in proactively reducing Title IX issues and effectively responding to Title IX issues after the fact.

Author

• Tamara J. Lynn, Fort Hays State University