Examining Whether Risk Factors Influence Student Perceptions of Campus Sexual Violence

TL;DR

This study found that university students' perceptions of a campus sexual violence scenario were not influenced by known risk factors like alcohol use or negative peer influence.

Contribution

The study reveals that students may rely on intuition rather than scientific knowledge when judging sexual violence risk factors.

Findings

Risk factors like alcohol use and negative peer influence did not significantly affect students' risk perceptions.

Students may use non-scientific approaches to assess interpersonal violence in campus settings.

Perceptions of a perpetrator's future risk were not influenced by the presence of known risk factors.

Abstract

The present study examined university students’ perceptions of a campus sexual violence scenario, and specifically determined whether the presence of known risk factors for sexual perpetration would influence their views of an individual who caused harm. Two hundred and seventy-five student participants read a vignette that either included the present or absence of the following three risk factors: Frequent alcohol use, attitudes supportive of rape, and negative peer influence. The findings indicated that the risk factors did not have a significant relationship with students' risk perceptions, indicating that students’ perceptions of risk may not be influenced by the presence of known risk factors. The results suggest that students may use intuition or other non-scientific approaches when assessing instances of interpersonal violence, at least in campus settings. Implications for students, post-secondary institutional safety, and prevention of campus sexual violence are discussed.

The study examines whether risk factors influence university students' perceptions about a campus sexual violence incident.University students who experience sexual violence are more likely to disclose to their peers and family and less likely to report such incidents to staff and faculty at their institution.Risk factors for sexual violence include rape myth acceptance, frequent alcohol use, and negative peer influence.Students' perceptions of a perpetrator's risk to commit further offences were not affected by the presence of known sexual violence risk factors.

The study examines whether risk factors influence university students' perceptions about a campus sexual violence incident.

University students who experience sexual violence are more likely to disclose to their peers and family and less likely to report such incidents to staff and faculty at their institution.

Risk factors for sexual violence include rape myth acceptance, frequent alcohol use, and negative peer influence.

Students' perceptions of a perpetrator's risk to commit further offences were not affected by the presence of known sexual violence risk factors.