Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-2019
Publication Title
Trauma, Violence, & Abuse
Abstract
Background: The prevalence of sexual perpetration in college men is unknown. Prior reviews of sexual violence prevalence rates have produced wide-ranging estimates, likely due to wide variation in measurement strategies.
Objectives: This paper systematically reviewed research findings (from 2000-2017) regarding prevalence rates of sexual perpetration in college men and measurement strategies.
Data Sources: PsycINFO and Web of Science databases.
Eligibility Criteria: Empirical reports published between 2000-2017 that included male participants, available in English, and reported lifetime prevalence findings in Canadian or American college students.
Participants: Data from 78 independent samples including 25,524 college men.
Results: The average prevalence rate of any sexual perpetration was 29.3% (SD = 16.8), and the average rate of rape was 6.5% (SD = 6.3). Studies that used non-Sexual Experiences Survey (SES) based questionnaires recorded higher prevalence rates (41.5%) than SES-using studies (26.2%). At least sixteen different sexual perpetration questionnaires were identified. Modifying standardized questionnaires was extremely common; this was reported in over half the studies. Studies using modified standardized questionnaires found higher prevalence rates of sexual perpetration than studies using non-modified standardized questionnaires.
Limitations: This report focused exclusively on college men in the United States and Canada.
Conclusions and Implications: On average, 29% of college males report engaging in behaviors defined as sexual perpetration; however, there was a strong influence of measurement strategy on reported rates.
DOI
10.1177/1524838019860619
ISSN
1552-8324
Rights
This article is has been published by Sage Publishing as: Anderson, R. E., Silver, K. E., Ciampaglia, A. M., Vitale, A. M., & Delahanty, D. L. (2019). The Frequency of Sexual Perpetration in College Men: A Systematic Review of Reported Prevalence Rates From 2000 to 2017. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838019860619
Recommended Citation
RaeAnn E. Anderson, Kristin E. Silver, Alyssa M. Ciampaglia, et al.. "The Frequency of Sexual Perpetration in College Men: A Systematic Review of Reported Prevalence Rates from 2000-2017" (2019). Psychology Faculty Publications. 11.
https://commons.und.edu/psych-fac/11
Supplemental Tables
Excluded appendex 7-24-19.docx (113 kB)
Excluded Appendix
Included Appendix.docx (29 kB)
Included Appendix
How often does sexual perpetration happen in college men.pdf (8900 kB)
Summary Infographic
How often does sexual perpetration happen in college men (1).pdf (8900 kB)
Extended Summary Infographic