Forced sexual intercourse and associated health-risk behaviors among female college students in the United States.

Abstract

This study analyzed data from the 1995 National College Health Risk Behavior Survey (NCHRBS) to assess the prevalence of lifetime rape among female college students and to examine the association between rape and health-risk behaviors. The NCHRBS used a mail questionnaire to assess health-risk behaviors among a nationally representative sample of undergraduate students. Twenty percent of female students reported ever having been forced to have sexual intercourse, most often during adolescence. When analyses controlled for demographic characteristics, female students who had ever been raped were significantly more likely than those who had not to report a wide range of health-risk behaviors. These results highlight a need to improve rape prevention and treatment programs for female adolescents.

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

“…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. Although they used only a single question to assess rape, they found that 15% of these students had been the victim of a completed rape since the age of 15.…”

Predictors of Injury Associated with Rape

“…Twenty percent of female college students from 148 institutions (18 to 24 years of age) (N = 4,838) were represented in another study (Brener, McMahon, Warren, & Douglas, 1999). …”

“…Notably, 71% of the women reported the first rape before the age of 18, and most in their teenage years, with only 16% before the age of 12. Retrospective reporting of rape and the use of a single screening question for rape is less than ideal (Brener et al, 1999). Brener and colleagues (1999) found women who had forced sexual intercourse had increased 1.5% to 2.7% odds of engaging in high risk behaviors, such as drinking and use of drugs.…”

“…Violent assault leads to acute physical injury, increased stress, and increased risk of mental and physical health problems. Current health problems in the young women were highly associated with their history of rape (Brener et al, 1999).…”

“…Both the Ackard (2002) and Brener (1999) studies correlated violence to subsequent psychological disorders and high risk behaviors, such as eating disorders and suicide attempts.…”