Skip to main content

Promising Avenues for Prevention: Confronting Sexual Victimization on College Campuses

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Preventing Crime and Violence

Part of the book series: Advances in Prevention Science ((Adv. Prevention Science))

Abstract

A substantial number of college females experience sexual victimization during their time at college. Research shows that several factors related to college life, such as parties and drinking, can increase the risk of sexual victimization. In response to the risk of sexual victimization and the realization that college life and culture itself can facilitate sexual violence, college campuses are now mandated to provide students and staff with information on sexual victimization, as well as access to prevention programs. This chapter discusses the extent of sexual victimization on college campuses and common risk factors identified by the literature. Next, the development of sexual victimization prevention programs and their efficacy are discussed, with particular focus on bystander intervention.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbey, A., McAuslan, P., & Ross, L. T. (1998). Sexual assault perpetration by college men: The role of alcohol, misperception of sexual intent, and sexual beliefs and experiences. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 17, 167–195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abbey, A., Zawacki, T., Buck, P. O., Clinton, A. M., & McAuslan, P. (2004). Sexual assault and alcohol consumption: What do we know about their relationship and what type of research are still needed? Aggression and Violent Behavior, 9, 271–303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abbey, A., Zawacki, T., Buck, P. O., Clinton, A. M., & McAuslan, P. (2001). Alcohol and sexual assault. Alcohol Research and Health, 25, 43–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, L. A., & Whiston, S. C. (2005). Sexual assault education programs a meta analytic examination of their effectiveness. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 29, 374–388.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Araas, T. E., & Adams, T. B. (2009). Protective behavioral strategies and negative alcohol-related consequences in college students. Journal of Drug Education, 38, 211–224.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Banyard, V. L. (2008). Measurement and correlates of prosocial bystander behavior: The case of interpersonal violence. Violence and Victims, 23(1), 83–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Banyard, V. L. (2011). Who will help prevent sexual violence: Creating an ecological model of bystander intervention. Psychology of Violence, 1(3), 216–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Banyard, V. L., & Moynihan, M. M. (2011). Variation in bystander behavior related to sexual and intimate partner violence prevention: Correlates in a sample of college students. Psychology of Violence, 1, 287–301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Banyard, V. L., Moynihan, M. M., & Plante, E. G. (2007). Sexual violence prevention through bystander education: An experimental evaluation. Journal of Community Psychology, 35(4), 463–481.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belknap, J. (1987). Routine activity theory and the risk of rape: Analyzing ten years of national crime survey data. Criminal Justice Policy Review, 2, 337–356.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benton, S. L., Schmidt, J. L., Newton, F. B., Shin, K., Benton, S. A., & Newton, D. W. (2004). College student protective strategies and drinking consequences. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 65, 115–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bohner, G., Siebler, F., & Schmelcher, J. (2006). Social norms and the likelihood of raping: Perceived rape myth acceptance of others affects men’s rape proclivity. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 32, 286–297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breitenbecher, K. H. (2001). Sexual assault on college campuses: Is an ounce of prevention enough? Applied and Preventive Psychology, 9, 23–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burn, S. M. (2009). A situational model of sexual assault prevention through bystander intervention. Sex Roles, 60(11–12), 779–792.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burt, M. R. (1980). Cultural myths and supports for rape. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 38, 217–230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cass, A. I. (2007). Routine activities and sexual assault: An analysis of individual-and school-level factors. Violence and Victims, 22, 350–366.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Champion, H. L., Foley, K. L., Durant, R. H., Hensberry, R., Altman, D., & Wolfson, M. (2004). Adolescent sexual victimization, use of alcohol and other substances, and other health risk behaviors. Journal of Adolescent Health, 35, 321–328.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Civic Impulse. (2015). S. 47—113th Congress: Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013. Retrieved from https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/s47.

  • Clinton-Sherrod, M., Morgan-Lopez, A. A., Brown, J. M., McMillen, B. A., & Cowell, A. (2011). Incapacitated sexual violence involving alcohol among college women: The impact of a brief drinking intervention. Violence Against Women, 17(1), 135–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coker, A. L., Cook-Craig, P. G., Williams, C. M., Fisher, B. S., Clear, E. R., Garcia, L. S., et al. (2011). Evaluation of Green Dot: An active bystander intervention to reduce sexual violence on college campuses. Violence Against Women, 17, 777–796.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • College Drinking (2015). National Institute of Health. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Retrieved from http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/CollegeFactSheet/CollegeFactSheet.pdf.

  • Combs-Lane, A. M., & Smith, D. W. (2002). Risk of sexual victimization in college women the role of behavioral intentions and risk-taking behaviors. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 17, 65–183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook-Craig, P. G., Coker, A. L., Clear, E. R., Garcia, L. S., Bush, H. M., Brancato, C. J., et al. (2014). Challenge and opportunity in evaluating a diffusion-based active bystanding prevention program green dot in high schools. Violence Against Women, 20, 1179–1202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daigle, L. E., Fisher, B. S., & Stewart, M. (2009). The effectiveness of sexual victimization prevention among college students: A summary of “what works”. Victims and Offenders, 4, 398–404.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daigle, L. E., Johnson, M., Napper, S., & Azimi, A. (2015). Protective behavioral strategies while drinking: Do they protect against sexual victimization and is this protection gendered? Drug and Alcohol Review. doi:10.1111/dar.12385.

  • Darley, J. M., & Latane, B. (1968). Bystander intervention in emergencies: Diffusion of responsibility. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 8(4p1), 377–383.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delva, J., Smith, M. P., Howell, R. L., Harrison, D. F., Wilke, D., & Jackson, D. L. (2004). A study of the relationship between protective behaviors and drinking consequences among undergraduate college students. Journal of American College Health, 53, 19–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fischer, P., Krueger, J. I., Greitemeyer, T., Vogrincic, C., Kastenmüller, A., Frey, D., et al. (2011). The bystander-effect: A meta-analytic review on bystander intervention in dangerous and non-dangerous emergencies. Psychological Bulletin, 137, 517–537.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, B. S., Cullen, F. T., & Turner, M. G. (2000). The sexual victimization of college women. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, B. S., Daigle, L. E., & Cullen, F. T. (2008). Rape against women: What can research offer to guide the development of prevention programs and risk reduction interventions? Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 24, 163–177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, B. S., Daigle, L. E., & Cullen, F. T. (2010). Unsafe in the ivory tower: The sexual victimization of college women. Tousand Oakes, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, B. S., Daigle, L. E., Cullen, F. T., & Santana, S. A. (2007). Assessing the efficacy of the protective action-completion nexus for sexual victimizations. Violence and Victims, 22, 18–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fromme, K., & Orrick, D. (2004). The lifestyle management class: A harm reduction approach to college drinking. Addiction Research & Theory, 12, 335–351.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Getlen, L. (2014). Debunking the myth of Ketty Geneovese. Retrieved from http://nypost.com/2014/02/16/book-reveals-real-story-behind-the-kitty-genovesemurder/.

  • Gidycz, C. A., McNamara, J. R., & Edwards, K. M. (2006). Women’s risk perception and sexual victimization: A review of the literature. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 11, 441–456.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gidycz, C. A., Orchowski, L. M., & Berkowitz, A. D. (2011). Preventing sexual aggression among college men: An evaluation of a social norms and bystander intervention program. Violence Against Women, 17, 720–742.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graham, J. W., Tatterson, J. W., Roberts, M. M., & Johnston, S. E. (2004). Preventing alcohol-related harm in college students: Alcohol-related harm prevention program effects on hypothesized mediating variables. Health Education Research, 19, 71–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haines, M. P., Barker, G., & Rice, R. M. (2006). The personal protective behaviors of college student drinkers: Evidence of indigenous protective norms. Journal of American College Health, 55(2), 69–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanson, R. K., & Broom, I. (2005). The utility of cumulative meta-analysis: Application to programs for reducing sexual violence. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 17, 357–373.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harari, H., Harari, O., & White, R. V. (1985). The reaction to rape by American male bystanders. The Journal of Social Psychology, 125, 653–658.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartwick, C., Desmarais, S., & Henning, K. (2007). Characteristics of male and female victims of sexual coercion. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 16, 31–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hingson, R. W., Zha, W., & Weitzman, E. R. (2009). Magnitude of and trends in alcohol related mortality and morbidity among US college students ages 18–24, 1998–2005. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, Supplement, 16, 12–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katz, J., Colbert, S., & Colangelo, L. (2015). Effects of group status and victim sex on female bystanders’ responses to a potential party rape. Violence and Victims, 30(2), 265–278.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katz, J., Pazienza, R., Olin, R., & Rich, H. (2014). That’s what friends are for: Bystander responses to friends or strangers at risk for party rape victimization. Journal of Interpersonal Violence,. doi:10.1177/0886260514554290.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kazemi, D. M., Levine, M. J., Qi, L., & Dmochowski, J. (2015). Brief motivational intervention for heavy drinking mandated and voluntary freshmen: A 1-year follow-up assessment. Nursing Outlook, 63, 349–356.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kilpatrick, D. G., Resnick, H. S., Ruggiero, K. J., Conoscenti, L. M., & McCauley, J. (2007). Drug-facilitated, incapacitated, and forcible rape: A national study. Charleston, SC: Medical University of South Carolina, National Crime Victims Research & Treatment Center.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kingkade, T. (2015). 106 Colleges are under federal investigation for sexual assault cases. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/06/colleges-federal-investigation-title-ix-106_n_7011422.html.

  • Kleinig, J. (1976). Good samaritanism. Philosophy & Public Affairs, 5, 382–407.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koss, M. P., Gidycz, C. A., & Wisniewski, N. (1987). The scope of rape: Incidence and prevalence of sexual aggression and victimization in a national sample of higher education students. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 162–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krebs, C. P., Lindquist, C. H., Warner, T. D., Fisher, B. S., & Martin, S. L. (2007). The campus sexual assault (CSA) study. Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice, US Department of Justice.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larimer, M. E., Lydum, A. R., Anderson, B. K., & Turner, A. P. (1999). Male and female recipients of unwanted sexual contact in a college student sample: Prevalence rates, alcohol use, and depression symptoms. Sex Roles, 40, 295–308.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Latane, B., & Darley, J. M. (1970). The unresponsive bystander: Why doesn’t he help? New York: Appleton-Century Crofts.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lonsway, K. A. (1996). Preventing acquaintance rape through education: What do we know. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 20, 229–265.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lonsway, K. A., Banyard, V. L., Berkowitz, A. D., Gidycz, C. A., Katz, J. T., Ross, M. P., et al. (2009). Rape prevention and risk reduction: Review of the research literature for practitioners. Harrisburg, PA: VAWnet, a project of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence/ Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Retrieved http://www.vawnet.org.

  • Marlatt, G. A., & Witkiewitz, K. (2002). Harm reduction approaches to alcohol use: Health promotion, prevention, and treatment. Addictive Behaviors, 27, 867–886.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martens, M. P., Taylor, K. K., Damann, K. M., Page, J. C., Mowry, E. S., & Cimini, M. D. (2004). Protective behavioral strategies when drinking alcohol and their relationship to negative alcohol-related consequences in college students. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 18, 390–393.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meadows, E. A., Jaycox, L. H., Orsillo, S. M., & Foa, E. B. (1997). The impact of assault on risk recognition in ambiguous situations. Paper presented at the 31st Annual Meeting of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Miami Beach, FL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Messman-Moore, T. L., & Brown, A. L. (2006). Risk perception, rape, and sexual revictimization: A prospective study of college women. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 30, 159–172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Noll, J. G., & Grych, J. H. (2011). Read-react-respond: An integrative model for understanding sexual revictimization. Psychology of Violence, 1, 202–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palmer, R. S., McMahon, T. J., Rounsaville, B. J., & Ball, S. A. (2010). Coercive sexual experiences, protective behavioral strategies, alcohol expectancies and consumption among male and female college students. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 25, 1563–1578.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parrott, D. J., Tharp, A. T., Swartout, K. M., Miller, C. A., Hall, G. C. N., & George, W. H. (2012). Validity for an integrated laboratory analogue of sexual aggression and bystander intervention. Aggressive Behavior, 38, 309–321.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenthal, E. H., Heesacker, M., & Neimeyer, G. J. (1995). Changing the rape supportive attitudes of traditional and nontraditional male and female college students. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 42, 171–177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rozee, P. D., & Koss, M. P. (2001). Rape: A century of resistance. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 25, 295–311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruback, R. B., Menard, K. S., Outlaw, M. C., & Shaffer, J. N. (1999). Normative advice to campus crime victims: Effects of gender, age, and alcohol. Violence and Victims, 14, 381–396.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salazar, L. F., Vivolo-Kantor, A., Hardin, J., & Berkowitz, A. (2014). A web-based sexual violence bystander intervention for male college students: Randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 16(9).

    Google Scholar 

  • Schewe, P. A. (2006). Guidelines for developing rape prevention and risk interventions. In Paul A. Schewe (Ed.), Preventing violence in relationships: Interventions across the life span (pp. 107–136). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, M. D., & Pitts, V. L. (1995). Exploring a feminist routine activities approach to explaining sexual assault. Justice Quarterly, 12, 9–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, M. D., DeKeseredy, W. S., Tait, D., & Alvi, S. (2001). Male peer support and a feminist routing activities theory: Understanding sexual assault on the college campus. Justice Quarterly, 18(3), 623–649.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scully, D., & Marolla, J. (1982). Convicted rapists’ attitudes toward women and rape. In First International, Interdisciplinary Congress on Women, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sinozich, S., & Langton, L. (2014). Rape and sexual assault victimization among college age females, 1995–2013. US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, The Bureau of Justice Statistics. Full text available at http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/rsavcaf9513.pdf.

  • Soler-Baillo, J. M., Marx, B. P., & Sloan, D. M. (2005). The psychophysiological correlates of risk recognition among victims and non-victims of sexual assault. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 43(2), 169–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stephens, K. A., & George, W. H. (2009). Rape prevention with college men evaluating risk status. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 24, 996–1013.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swartout, K. M. (2013). The company they keep: How peer networks influence male sexual aggression. Psychology of Violence, 3, 157–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tewksbury, R., & Mustaine, E. E. (2001). Lifestyle factors associated with the sexual assault of men: A routine activity theory analysis. The Journal of Men’s Studies, 9, 153–182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tjaden, P., & Thoennes, N. (2000). Full report of the prevalence, incidence, and consequences of violence against women: Findings from the national violence against women survey. Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Turchik, J. A. (2012). Sexual victimization among male college students: Assault severity, sexual functioning, and health risk behaviors. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 13, 243–255.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ullman, S. E. (2007). A 10-year update of “review and critique of empirical studies of rape avoidance”. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 34, 411–429.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, H., Kuo, M., Lee, H., & Dowdall, G. W. (2000). Environmental correlates of underage alcohol use and related problems of college students. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 19, 24–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, H., Lee, J. E., Kuo, M., Seibring, M., Nelson, T. F., & Lee, H. (2002). Trends in college binge drinking during a period of increased prevention efforts: Findings from 4 Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study surveys: 1993–2001. Journal of American College Health, 50(5), 203–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weiss, K. G. (2013). Party school: Crime, campus, and community. Lebanon, NH: Northeastern University.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Leah E. Daigle .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Azimi, A.M., Daigle, L.E. (2017). Promising Avenues for Prevention: Confronting Sexual Victimization on College Campuses. In: Teasdale, B., Bradley, M. (eds) Preventing Crime and Violence. Advances in Prevention Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44124-5_21

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44124-5_21

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-44122-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-44124-5

  • eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics