A Comparison of College Women and Men on Types of Sexual Assault

• In Event: The Victimization of Young Adults on University/College Campuses

Abstract

Little is known about prevalence rates for individual sexual assault types (i.e., coercion, incapacitation, physical force) among college women and men. The purpose of this study is to compare frequency and type of sexual assault for women and men, and whether risk factors are similar. Data were gathered from 783 college students in 2019-2020. Results revealed that frequency of different sexual assault types were generally twice as high for women compared to men: 24% of women vs. 12% of men reported incapacitation by alcohol or drugs. For every type of sexual coercion, women were significantly more likely to have had this experience compared to men whereas for incapacitated sexual assault, women and men were more similar. Multivariate results revealed that engaging in heavier drinking and having more PTSD symptoms were both significant correlates of incapacitated sexual assault for men while for women, the significant correlates included experiencing more child physical abuse, more heavy drinking, more prescription drug use, having more close friends who engage in risky drinking, and having more PTSD symptoms. Findings highlight high rates of sexual assault for college women and men and both groups are at high risk for experiencing incapacitated sexual assault.

Author

• Kimberly A. Tyler, University of Nebraska - Lincoln