College women's experiences with physically forced, alcohol- or other drug-enabled, and drug-facilitated sexual assault before and since entering college

OBJECTIVE: Research has shown associations between college women's alcohol and/or drug consumption and the risk of sexual assault, but few studies have measured the various means by which sexual assault is achieved. PARTICIPANTS: The authors' Campus Sexual Assault Study obtained self-report data from a random sample of undergraduate women (N = 5,446). METHODS: The authors collected data on sexual assault victimization by using a cross-sectional, Web-based survey, and they conducted analyses assessing the role of substance use. The authors also compared victimizations before and during college, and across years of study. RESULTS: Findings indicate that almost 20% of undergraduate women experienced some type of completed sexual assault since entering college. Most sexual assaults occurred after women voluntarily consumed alcohol, whereas few occurred after women had been given a drug without their knowledge or consent. CONCLUSIONS: The authors discuss implications for campus sexual assault prevention programs, including the need for integrated substance use and sexual victimization prevention programming
Author: 
Krebs,C.P.
Lindquist,C.H.
Warner,T.D.
Fisher,B.S.
Martin,S.L.
Notes: 
DA
Reprint Status: 
NOT IN FILE
Start Page: 
639
End Page: 
647
Volume: 
57
Issue: 
6
Abstract: 
The Campus Sexual Assault study examined the prevalence of different types of sexual assault experienced by women and the means by which sexual assault was achieved. Data was collected from 5,466 undergraduate women from 2 public, 4- year universities. Participants reported on attempted and completed rape and sexual battery and if the assault occurred by use of physical or threatened force or incapacitation. The findings indicated: approximately 20% of undergraduate women experienced some type of completed sexual assault while in college, 11% while incapacitated, 7.8% experienced alcohol and/or other drug enabled sexual assault. Implications for practice include that campus sexual assault prevention programs should integrate information about substance use into programming.
Topic Areas: 
college, prevalence
Reference Type: 
JOUR
Reference ID: 
2592
Publication Date: 
2009/05