Population and Subgroup Differences in the Prevalence and Predictors of Campus Sexual Assault, United States, 2016-2021

This secondary data analysis included analyzing pre and post-test intervention data from the Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates (SAPU) online sexual assault prevention education program.

The SAPU data included a large, demographically diverse national sample of college students, allowing for a more in-depth investigation of the prevalence and predictors of sexual assault victimization and perpetration across different types of college campuses. Furthermore, the dataset included contemporaneous measures of unwanted sexual contact victimization and perpetration, dating abuse victimization, and harassment victimization.

The aims for the study included the following:

• Aim 1: Examine variation in school-level prevalence of sexual assault victimization and perpetration by school type, size, and region from academic years (AY) 2016-2017 to 2019-2020.
• Aim 2: Assess subgroup differences (by gender identity, sexual orientation, race) in school-level prevalence of sexual assault victimization and perpetration, accounting for school type, size, region.
• Aim 3: Investigate the relationship between attitudes and perceptions of campus norms and self-reports of sexual assault victimization and perpetration, accounting for precampus sexual assault and individual demographics and school characteristics (type, size, region).
• Aim 4: Examine variation in the relationship between attitudes and perceptions of campus norms and self-reports of sexual assault victimization and perpetration by subgroups (gender identity, sexual orientation, race), accounting for precampus sexual assault and individual and school characteristics (type, size, region).
• Aim 5: Examine variation in bystander intentions, efficacy, and behaviors and self-reports of sexual assault victimization and perpetration by subgroups (gender identity, sexual orientation, race), accounting for attitudes, perceptions of campus norms, and precampus sexual assault, as well as individual and school characteristics (type, size, region).