Correlates of Sexual Victimization Among Community College Women

Violence Vict. 2024 Mar 7;39(1):38-52. doi: 10.1891/VV-2022-0109.

Abstract

The current study documents the correlates associated with the severity of sexual victimization among women enrolled in a 2-year community college. Comparisons between women with a history of severe sexual victimization (i.e., rape and attempted rape), moderate sexual victimization (i.e., unwanted contact and sexual coercion), and no history of sexual victimization revealed that women with a history of severe sexual victimization endorsed more drinks per week, increased problem drinking behavior, and more use of drug before sex and higher levels of self-protective dating behaviors compared with women with no history of sexual victimization. These findings suggest that programs should target the intersection of alcohol and drug use as correlates of sexual victimization among community college women.

Keywords: alcohol; protective behaviors; rape; risky behaviors; sexual assault.

MeSH terms

  • Crime Victims*
  • Ethanol
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Rape*
  • Sex Offenses*
  • Sexual Behavior

Substances

  • Ethanol