To address sexual assault on college campuses, many universities have adopted affirmative consent. Despite the adoption of these policies, there has been little research understanding the nuances of sexual consent. Drawing from sexual script theory, this study uses qualitative methodology to explore how college students understand sexual consent.…

Previous studies have indicated that sorority members engage in high-risk alcohol consumption, putting them at increased risk of sexual victimization. In the current study, we examined the associations between sorority members' adherence to myths about sexual consent and assault related to alcohol misuse. Findings from the responses of 110…

Sexual violence is common on US college campuses and can result in negative health and academic outcomes. Credit-bearing courses are a possible innovative intervention, but few have been studied, and little is known about enrolled students' experiences. Our institution, located in the Southern United States, developed a semester-long class as a…

Men's negative attitudes toward women represent a known risk factor for sexual aggression perpetration. Sexual aggression is a widespread public health concern, especially among emerging adults, and is associated with a multitude of negative consequences. The current study evaluated whether pornography-related perceived peer norms, own approval,…

Cyberbullying is a serious problem, and research on associations between different types of interpersonal violence and cyberbullying victimization is limited. The purpose of this study was to examine how the frequency of physical dating violence (PDV), sexual dating violence (SDV), and forced sexual intercourse (FSI) is associated with…

We examined predictors of rape myth acceptance (RMA) and bystander attitudes among college women (n = 137). Participants completed self-report measures of RMA, bystander attitudes, sexist beliefs, gender-conforming attitudes, sexuality attitudes, sexual knowledge, and just world beliefs. Stepwise multiple regression analyses indicated that RMA was…

Ghanaian adolescents face considerable sexual and reproductive health challenges that can disrupt human capital formation. However, a positive and healthy transition from adolescence to adulthood can be achieved by increasing access to sexual and reproductive health information, education, and services. This paper documents emerging findings from…

This dissertation study is an examination of the relationship among rape culture, hookup culture, and social structure (i.e. regular and patterned forms of interaction over time which crystalize ideological constructs and channel behavior in specific ways). Since few efforts have examined female-on-female rape myth acceptance, I first explore…

Policies have been implemented to require sexual assault prevention programs on college campuses, but there is no existing system to determine whether or not specific programs are effective. Data were collected from college students from four universities in the state of Mississippi prior to and after the students completed an online sexual…

Sexual violence prevention initiatives often do not address the unique experiences of international students. This study examined the experiences of eight East Asian international students navigating sex, relationships, and sexual violence in the United States. Four themes emerged: navigating a more open society without preparation, feeling…

This phenomenologically grounded qualitative study examined the lived experience of a student sexual violence advocate. Student advocates are utilized to operate crisis lines on college campuses for survivors of sexual assault, domestic abuse or other forms of sexual violence. This dissertation argues the lived experience of student sexual…

The beginning of college campus life is one of the most exciting phases of student life. However, for some students, it might pose a threat in the form of sexual violence. In the United States, sexual violence is highly pervasive, placing college students at a greater risk of victimization. Currently, there is a lack of data on sexual crimes…

Objective: This study examined if empathy was a significant moderator of several empirically established risk factors for sexual violence perpetration among college men. Participants: Data are from 544 college men who participated in a longitudinal study from 2008 to 2011 at a large, public university. Methods: Participants completed a self-report…

Sexual assault on college campuses has been a longstanding problem in the USA. Unfortunately, relatively little has been done to look at the characteristics of these attacks and how they might relate to knowledge of sexual assault policies, participation in sex education courses, beliefs toward sexual violence, and willingness to intervene if an…

Background: College sexual violence (CSV) victimization is associated with mental health issues with more recent research showing that victimization also has a negative impact on academic outcomes. While many universities offer a wide range of both advocacy and supportive services for survivors that can help address the negative impacts of CSV,…