Alcohol and Dating Risk Factors for Sexual Assault Among College Women

Abstract

American societal norms frequently link alcohol, dating, and sexuality. This cross‐sectional study examined the role of alcohol and dating risk factors for sexual assault among a representative sample of female students at a large urban university. Over half of the 1,160 women had experienced some form of sexual assault. Ninety‐five percent of these assaults were committed by someone the woman knew and almost half of these assaults involved alcohol consumption by either the man, the woman, or both. Discriminant function analyses indicated that dating, sexual, and misperception experiences and alcohol consumption during these experiences predicted assault group status. Furthermore, alcohol consumption during consensual sex and sexual misperceptions were positively related to alcohol consumption during the sexual assault. The predictors of assault group status were similar for African American and Caucasian women. Theoretical implications are discussed and suggestions are made for combining alcohol and sexual assault prevention programming.

Sexual assault and alcohol consumption: what do we know about their relationship and what types of research are still needed?

“…Eighty-four percent of the women knew their assailant; 57% were dates. These findings have been replicated by other researchers at various universities (Abbey, Ross, McDuffie, & McAuslan, 1996a;Kalof, 1993;Mills & Granoff, 1992;Muehlenhard & Linton, 1987;Neal & Mangis, 1995). Recently, Brener, McMahon, Warren, and Douglas (1999) examined the prevalence of rape among a representative sample of 4609 female college students.…”

“…Rates of alcohol consumption vary among different ethnic groups, thus rates of alcoholinvolved sexual assault are also likely to differ (Office of Applied Statistics, 1997). Abbey et al (1996a) found that alcohol was involved in fewer of the sexual assaults that African American women experienced as compared to Caucasian women, although the crosssectional predictors of sexual assault did not vary by ethnicity. This study, however, assessed only a limited number of variables, therefore, research that includes more detailed questions about alcohol's role in sexual assault may find differences.…”

“…Several authors have found that the relationship between the perpetrator and the victim is more casual in alcohol-involved sexual assaults as compared to sexual assaults that do not involve alcohol (Abbey et al, 1996a;Harrington & Leitenberg, 1994;Ullman et al, 1999a;Ullman, Karabatsos, & Koss, 1999b). For example, Harrington and Leitenberg (1994) found that alcohol consumption was more likely when the man and woman were casually acquainted rather than steady dates.…”

“…Not surprisingly, alcohol-involved sexual assaults are more likely than other sexual assaults to involve spontaneous interactions and time spent at a party or bar (Abbey et al, 1996a;Ullman et al, 1999aUllman et al, , 1999b. The perpetrator and victim are less likely to be alone the entire time when either of them has been drinking alcohol (Abbey et al, 2001;Norris et al, 1998).…”

“…Similar studies are needed with noncollege populations who participate in other types of all male groups, such as sports teams or fraternal organizations, to determine if there are shared norms that encourage or discourage sexual assault. Several studies have documented that as compared to other sexual assaults, alcohol-involved sexual assaults typically involve a more casual social relationship between perpetrator and victim and are more likely to occur after being in locations such as parties or bars (Abbey et al, 1996a;Ullman et al, 1999b). Research that explores how perpetrators select a potential victim at a party or a bar would help inform prevention programs.…”