Context and Consequences of Sexual Assault Among Undergraduate Women at Historically Black Colleges and Universities HBCUs

• NCJ Number: 245708
• Author(s): Christine H. Lindquist, Kelle Barrick, Christopher Krebs, Carmen M. Crosby, Allison J. Lockard, Kathy Sanders-Phillips
• Date Published: August 2013
• Length: 25 pages
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Award: The Historically Black College and University Campus Sexual Assault Study

Annotation

To examine the context of sexual assault and postassault actions and consequences among women attending historically Black colleges or universities HBCUs, web-based surveys were administered in November 2008 to 3,951 undergraduate women attending four HBCUs.

Abstract

To examine the context of sexual assault and postassault actions and consequences among women attending historically Black colleges or universities HBCUs, web-based surveys were administered in November 2008 to 3,951 undergraduate women attending four HBCUs. Data on the context in which assaults occurred were generated for women who had been sexually assaulted since entering college n = 358. Multivariate models were run on the full sample to examine the association between sexual assault and symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder PTSD. Results indicated that most survivors were assaulted by assailants well known to them and when the survivor and perpetrator were drinking alcohol. Very few survivors disclosed their experiences to formal sources of support. Survivors had significantly more symptoms of depression and were more likely to screen positive for PTSD than nonvictims. Further research on disclosure and its moderating role on the mental health consequences of sexual assault is needed. Abstract published by arrangement with Sage.