Participating in a Culture of Consent May Be Associated with Lower Rape-Supportive Beliefs

With the recent national focus on rates of sexual violence, many interventions have been proposed, including those that focus on affirmative consent (e.g., "Yes Means Yes" campaign). 

The goal of the present study was to test whether individuals within a subculture with long-standing norms of affirmative consent-the bondage and discipline/dominance and submission/sadism and masochism (BDSM) community-report lower rape-supportive attitudes compared to individuals not from within this subculture. BDSM practitioner participants, adult participants from Amazon's Mechanical Turk (MTurk), and college student participants completed measures of hostile sexism, benevolent sexism, rape myth acceptance, victim blaming, expectation of sexual aggression, and acceptance of sexual aggression. 

BDSM practitioners reported significantly lower levels of benevolent sexism, rape myth acceptance, and victim blaming than did college undergraduates and adult MTurk workers. BDSM practitioners did not differ significantly from college undergraduates or adult MTurk workers on measures of hostile sexism, expectations of sexual aggression, or acceptance of sexual aggression. Limitations and implications are discussed.

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By:  Klement KR1, Sagarin BJ1, Lee EM1.

• 1 Department of Psychology , Northern Illinois University. 
• J Sex Res. 2016 Apr 27:1-5. 

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Trajectory Analysis of the Campus Serial Rapist Assumption

IMPORTANCE:

Rape on college campuses has been addressed recently by a presidential proclamation, federal legislation, advocacy groups, and popular media. Many initiatives assume that most college men who perpetrate rape are serial rapists. The scientific foundation for this perspective is surprisingly limited.

OBJECTIVE:

To determine whether a group of serial rapists exists by identifying cohesive groups of young men, indicated by their trajectories of rape likelihood across high school and college.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS:

Latent class growth analysis of the 2 largest longitudinal data sets of adolescent sexual violence on college campuses using 2 distinct groups of male college students. The first group was used for derivation modeling (n = 847; data collected from August 1990 through April 1995) and the second for validation modeling (n = 795; data collected from March 2008 through May 2011). Final data analyses were conducted from February 16, 2015, through February 20, 2015.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES:

Rape perpetration assessed using the Sexual Experiences Survey.

RESULTS:

Across samples, 178 of 1642 participants (10.8%) reported having perpetrated at least 1 rape from 14 years of age through the end of college. A 3-trajectory model best fit both the derivation and validation data sets. Trajectories reflected low or time-limited (92.6% of participants), decreasing (5.3%), and increasing (2.1%) rape patterns. No consistently high trajectory was found. Most men who perpetrated a rape before college were classified in the decreasing trajectory. During college, the increasing trajectory included 14 men (15.2%) who reported having perpetrated a rape, the decreasing trajectory included 30 men (32.6%), and the low or time-limited included 48 men (52.2%). No participant in the low or time-limited trajectory reported perpetrating a rape during more than 1 period. Most men (67 [72.8%]) who committed college rape only perpetrated rape during 1 academic year.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE:

Although a small group of men perpetrated rape across multiple college years, they constituted a significant minority of those who committed college rape and did not compose the group at highest risk of perpetrating rape when entering college. Exclusive emphasis on serial predation to guide risk identification, judicial response, and rape-prevention programs is misguided. To deter college rape, prevention should be initiated before, and continue during, college. Child and adolescent health care professionals are well positioned to intervene during the early teenage years by informing parents about the early onset of nonconsensual sexual behavior.

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By:  Swartout KM¹, Koss MP², White JW³, Thompson MP⁴, Abbey A⁵, Bellis AL¹.

¹Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta.

²Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson.

³Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro.

⁴Institute on Family and Neighborhood Life, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina.

⁵Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.

JAMA Pediatr. 2015 Dec;169(12):1148-54. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2015.0707.

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What’s Gender Got to Do With It? Sexual Double Standards and Power in Heterosexual College Hookups

Although college hookups are typically enjoyable for both men and women, heterosexual hookups often involve inequitable power dynamics that privilege men (e.g., women perform sexual acts to please partners and/or succumb to pressure for intercourse). Some scholars have attributed this power imbalance to the traditional double standard. However, recent studies have indicated college students typically endorse egalitarian standards—and some endorse a reverse double standard in which they negatively judge men more than women for engaging in the same sexual behavior. 

Using Online College Social Life Survey data (N = 11,077) I examined relationships between endorsement of double standards and power in hookups. Because contemporary students often believe double standards exist in society but not in their own minds, I also examined relationships between feeling negatively judged for hooking up and power. 

Most respondents endorsed egalitarian standards, but women were more likely than men to feel judged for hooking up. Feeling judged was a significant predictor of power disadvantages for women and men; endorsing a double standard disparaging one’s own gender was significant among men. 

Findings suggest contemporary relevance of the traditional double standard and highlight differences between women’s and men’s endorsement of double standards disparaging their own gender.

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By:  Heather Hensman Kettrey^a*

• ^a Peabody Research Institute, Vanderbilt University

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The Roles of Family Factors and Relationship Dynamics on Dating Violence Victimization and Perpetration among College Men and Women in Emerging Adulthood

Using data from the International Dating Violence Study, this study examined the roles of early socialization, family social structure, and relationship dynamics factors on physical aggression in dating among U.S. college students in emerging adulthood. 

The interaction effects between these three domains of interest (early socialization, family social structure, and relationship dynamics) were explored to understand the underlying mechanisms that influenced victimization and perpetration in dating. 

In general, we found that family and relational variables associated with dating victimization and perpetration were fairly similar. Among the early socialization variables, experience of childhood neglect and having witnessed domestic violence were significantly related to victimization and perpetration. Living in a two-parent household appeared to exert a protective effect, although associations with parental education were not statistically significant. 

Furthermore, the participants were more likely to experience victimization or impose aggression in dating relationships which were characterized by conflicts, distress, dominance, or psychological aggression. Overall, for the participants who came from a two-parent household, dominance in dating was linked to less violence. 

When the participants faced higher levels of psychological aggression, adverse early socialization factors were associated with higher levels of dating violence victimization and perpetration. Research and practice implications were discussed.

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By:  Paat YF1, Markham C2.

• 1The University of Texas at El Paso, USA ypaat@utep.edu.
• 2University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, USA. 
• J Interpers Violence. 2016 Mar 27. pii: 0886260516640544

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Poor Awareness of Syphilis Prevention & Treatment Knowledge among Six Different Populations in South China

BACKGROUND:

China is facing an emerging epidemic of syphilis, and the cities in south China are most affected. Knowledge is a key factor in the prevention of syphilis infection, however, little is reported about how much people know about syphilis. This study was aimed at assessing peoples' awareness status in a city located in south China.

METHODS:

Six populations were recruited for this study, including urban residents, factory workers, college students, pregnant women, female sex workers (FSWs), and men who have sex with men (MSM). A questionnaire designed by the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention was used to assess participants' awareness of syphilis knowledge. About 5 % of participants were randomly selected to conduct a telephone survey for confirming the validity of fieldwork.

RESULTS:

The study recruited 3470 participants, and 61.2 % of participants were assigned to the awareness group. College students had the smallest percentage of awareness at 51.7 % (371/718), followed by FSWs at 53.9 % (200/371), factory workers at 56.0 % (381/679), urban residents at 65.4 % (435/665), pregnant women at 66.0 % (451/683), and MSM at 81.1 % (287/354). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that MSM and FSWs-but not factory workers and pregnant women-had more awareness of syphilis knowledge when comparing with urban residents; however, college students presented less awareness of syphilis knowledge than urban residents. Participants of younger age, of female gender, with lower education levels and without Shenzhen hukou possessed less awareness of syphilis knowledge than those of older age, of male gender, with higher education levels and with Shenzhen hukou respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

The percentages of awareness on syphilis knowledge found in this study are far from the benchmark set in the national 10-year plan. Tailored interventions for different subgroups to increase syphilis awareness are urgently warranted.

Full article at:   http://goo.gl/zRekFO

By:  Wu X1, Hong F2, Lan L1, Zhang C1, Feng T1, Yang Y1.

• 1Department of STD control and prevention, Shenzhen Center for Chronic Disease Control, No. 2021, Buxin Road, Luohu District, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, P.R. China.
• 2Department of STD control and prevention, Shenzhen Center for Chronic Disease Control, No. 2021, Buxin Road, Luohu District, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, P.R. China. hfc0755@sina.com. 
• BMC Public Health. 2016 Mar 28;16(1):287. doi: 10.1186/s12889-016-2966-4.

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Psychotic-Like Experiences and Substance Use in College Students

Psychotic disorders, as well as psychotic-like experiences and substance use, have been found to be associated. The main goal of the present study was to analyse the relationship between psychoticlike experiences and substance use in college students. 

The simple comprised a total of 660 participants (M = 20.3 years, SD = 2.6). The results showed that 96% of the sample reported some delusional experience, while 20.3% reported at least one positive psychotic-like experience. Some substance use was reported by 41.1% of the sample, differing in terms of gender. Substance users reported more psychoticlike experiences than non-users, especially in the positive dimension. Also, alcohol consumption predicted in most cases extreme scores on measures of delusional ideation and psychotic experiences. 

The association between these two variables showed a differentiated pattern, with a stronger relationship between substance use and cognitive-perceptual psychotic-like experiences. To some extent, these findings support the dimensional models of the psychosis phenotype and contribute a better understanding of the links between psychoticlike experiences and substance use in young adults. 

Future studies should further explore the role of different risk factors for psychotic disorders and include models of the gene-environment interaction.

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By:  Fonseca-Pedrero E1, Ortuño-Sierra J, Paino M, Muñiz J.

• 1Departamento de Ciencias de la Educación. eduardo.fonseca.pedrero@gmail.com. 
• Adicciones. 2016 Mar 2:781. doi: 10.20882/adicciones.781.

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An Evaluation of Two Dating Violence Prevention Programs on a College Campus

Dating violence is a serious and prevalent public health problem that is associated with numerous negative physical and psychological health outcomes, and yet there has been limited evaluation of prevention programs on college campuses. A recent innovation in campus prevention focuses on mobilizing bystanders to take action. To date, bystander programs have mainly been compared with no treatment control groups raising questions about what value is added to dating violence prevention by focusing on bystanders. 

This study compared a single 90-min bystander education program for dating violence prevention with a traditional awareness education program, as well as with a no education control group. Using a quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test design with follow-up at 2 months, a sample of predominately freshmen college students was randomized to either the bystander (n = 369) or traditional awareness (n = 376) dating violence education program. A non-randomized control group of freshmen students who did not receive any education were also surveyed (n = 224). Students completed measures of attitudes, including rape myth acceptance, bystander efficacy, and intent to help as well as behavioral measures related to bystander action and victimization. 

Results showed that the bystander education program was more effective at changing attitudes, beliefs, efficacy, intentions, and self-reported behaviors compared with the traditional awareness education program. Both programs were significantly more effective than no education. 

The findings of this study have important implications for future dating violence prevention educational programming, emphasizing the value of bystander education programs for primary dating violence prevention among college students.

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By:  Peterson K1, Sharps P2, Banyard V3, Powers RA4, Kaukinen C5, Gross D2, Decker MR2, Baatz C6, Campbell J2.

• 1University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, CO, USA kpeters2@uccs.edu.
• 2Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
• 3University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA.
• 4University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
• 5University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA.
• 6University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, CO, USA. 
• J Interpers Violence. 2016 Mar 13. pii: 0886260516636069.

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Sexual Behaviour & Risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Young Female Healthcare Students in Spain

Background. 

Several authors have examined the risk for sexually transmitted infections (STI), but no study has yet analyzed it solely in relation with sexual behaviour in women. We analyzed the association of sexual behaviour with STI risk in female university students of healthcare sciences.

Methods. 

We designed a cross-sectional study assessing over three months vaginal intercourse with a man. The study involved 175 female university students, without a stable partner, studying healthcare sciences in Spain. Main outcome variable: STI risk (not always using male condoms). Secondary variables: sexual behaviour, method of orgasm, desire to increase the frequency of sexual relations, desire to have more variety in sexual relations, frequency of sexual intercourse with the partner, and age. The information was collected with an original questionnaire. A logistic regression model was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) in order to analyze the association between the STI risk and the study variables.

Results. 

Of the 175 women, 52 were positive for STI risk (29.7%, 95% CI [22.9–36.5%]). Factors significantly associated with STI risk (p < 0.05) included: orgasm (not having orgasms →OR = 7.01, 95% CI [1.49–33.00]; several methods →OR = 0.77, 95% CI [0.31–1.90]; one single method →OR = 1; p = 0.008) and desiring an increased frequency of sexual activities (OR = 0.27, 95% CI [0.13–0.59], p < 0.001).

Conclusions. 

Women’s desire for sexual activities and their sexual function were significant predictors of their risk for STI. Information about sexual function is an intrinsic aspect of sexual behaviour and should be taken into consideration when seeking approaches to reduce risks for STI.

Analysis of STI risk in female university students from Alicante (Spain). 2005–2009 data.

Variable	Total	STI risk	Adj. OR	95% CI	p-value
	175	52(29.7%)
	n(%)∕x ± s	n(%)∕x ± s
Sexual orientation:
Heterosexual	168(96.0)	48(28.6)	N/M	N/M	N/M
Bisexual or other*	7(4.0)	4(57.1)
Method of orgasm:
No orgasm	13(7.4)	9(69.2)	7.01	1.49–33.00	0.008a
Several methods	131(74.9)	32(24.4)	0.77	0.31–1.90
A single method*	31(17.7)	11(35.5)	1
Desire to increase the frequency of sexual relations:
Yes	92(52.6)	18(19.6)	0.27	0.13–0.59	<0.001
No*	83(47.4)	34(41.0)	1
Desire to have more variety in sexual relations:
Yes	60(34.3)	13(21.7)	0.58	0.27–1.26	0.168
No*	115(65.7)	39(33.9)	1
Age (years)	20.8 ± 2.2	20.9 ± 2.0	N/M	N/M	N/M
Frequency of sexual intercourse with the partner	3.8 ± 1.2	4.0 ± 1.4	1.17	0.86–1.60	0.396

Notes.

STI

Sexually transmitted infections

Adj. OR

adjusted odds ratio

CI

Confidence interval

N/M

Not in the model

*Reference.

ap-value for the complete factor. The p-values for the comparison with the reference are: (1) No orgasm: 0.014; (2) Several methods: 0.571. Frequency of sexual intercourse with partner (6 = 5–7 times/week; 5 = 3–4 times/week; 4 = 1–2 times/week; 3 = 2–3 times/month; 2 = once/month; 1 = Never). Goodnessof-fit of the model: (1) likelihood ratio test: X2 = 26.1, p < 0.001; (2) Hosmer-Lemeshow test: X2 = 13.6, p = 0.092.

Below:  Predicted probabilities of STI risk in relation to Methods of Orgasm category in female university students from Alicante (Spain). 2005–2009 data

Below:  Predicted probabilities of STI risk in relation to Desire to increase the frequency of sexual relationships in female university students from Alicante (Spain). 2005–2009 data

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By:  Felipe Navarro-Cremades,1 Antonio Palazón-Bru,1 Dolores Marhuenda-Amorós,2 María Isabel Tomás-Rodríguez,2 Fina Antón-Ruiz,3 Josefina Belda-Ibañez,4 Ángel Luis Montejo,5 and Vicente Francisco Gil-Guillén1

¹Department of Clinical Medicine, Miguel Hernández University, San Juan de Alicante, Alicante, Spain

²Department of Pathology and Surgery, Miguel Hernández University, San Juan de Alicante, Alicante, Spain

³Department of Education, San Antonio Catholic University, Murcia, Spain

⁴Centre for Information and AIDS Prevention, Conselleria de Sanitat, Alicante, Spain

⁵Department of Nursing, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain

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Sexual Assault Supportive Attitudes: Rape Myth Acceptance and Token Resistance in Greek and Non-Greek College Students from Two University Samples in the United States

Colleges are rape-prone cultures with high rates of sexual victimization. Fraternities' and sororities' relationships with sexual assault are consistent themes in literature focusing on sexual violence among college students. Previous research suggests that fraternity men are more likely to endorse rape-supportive attitudes compared with non-Greek men or sorority women. 

The present study examines rape-supportive attitudes as well as rape and sexual assault victimization in college students with a focus on gender and Greek-life (i.e., involvement in fraternities or sororities) status variables. College students (N = 1,002) completed a survey including the Token Resistance to Sex Scale (TRSS), Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale-Short Form (IRMA-S), and items related to past experiences of nonconsensual sex. Two regression models tested predictors of token resistance and rape myth acceptance. Chi-square analyses tested between-group differences of experiencing rape and sexual assault. Gender (p < .001), Greek status (p < .001), and race/ethnicity (p < .001) were predictors for TRSS scores. 

For IRMA scores, gender (p < .001), Greek status (p < .001), and race/ethnicity variables (p < .001) were also significant. Interaction terms revealed that Greek men had higher token resistance and rape myth acceptance than any other group. Chi-square analyses indicate women more frequently report experiences of rape (χ² = 25.57, df = 1, p < .001) and sexual assault (χ² = 31.75, df = 1, p < .001). 

Men report high rates (40.8%) of experiencing sexual assault "because refusing was useless." No differences of victimization rates were found between Greeks and non-Greeks. Gender and sexual scripting theory can help explain gender differences in attitudes and experiences. Greater endorsement of rape myth acceptance and token resistance by Greeks, who influence college party culture, could be contributing to a culture conducive to rape. 

Findings demonstrate a continued need for interventions focused on shifting sociocultural dynamics (e.g., traditional roles and sexual scripting) on college campuses.

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By:  Canan SN1, Jozkowski KN2, Crawford BL3.

• 1University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, USA.
• 2University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, USA Indiana University, Bloomington, USA kjozkows@uark.edu.
• 3University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, USA University of Oklahoma, Norman, USA. 
• J Interpers Violence. 2016 Mar 3. pii: 0886260516636064.

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Perceived Social Support in the Lives of Gay, Bisexual & Queer Hispanic College Men

In this qualitative study, we examined the sources and nature of social support reported by 24 gay, bisexual and queer Hispanic college men at a small liberal arts college and a large university in the USA. 

We identified four themes of support across the interviews: Shared experiences (46%), Protector (42%), Support in the air (33%) and Gradual support (29%). Shared experiences included support from those who had previous experience with the lesbian, gay or bisexual community. Protector indicated a type of support that was psychologically, emotionally or physically protective in nature. Participants also reported receiving indirect support such as nonverbal behaviours or indirect gestures of endorsement and caring (support in the air). Participants reported that many of their network members came to support them gradually over time (gradual support). Within each theme we found support from both women and men, who provided support in gender-consistent ways. 

Our results highlight that despite continued prejudice and discrimination in society, sexual and racial/ethnic minority men have strongholds of support from men and women in their lives that enable them to navigate their development successfully.

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By:  Rios D1, Eaton A2.

• 1 Departments of Psychology and Women's Studies , University of Houston-Clear Lake , Houston , USA.
• 2 Departments of Psychology and Women's and Gender Studies , Florida International University , Miami , USA. 
• Cult Health Sex. 2016 Mar 4:1-14

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