Examining Differences in Sexual Violence Perpetration Likelihood by Perceived Intoxication Among Sexual and Gender Minority College Students

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

ABSTRACT Experiences of sexual violence (SV) victimization are pervasive among sexual and gender minority college students, yet few studies have documented rates of SV perpetration within this community. While numerous risk factors, including acute alcohol intoxication, have been posited to increase risk for SV perpetration among cisgender heterosexual men, their relevancy to SGM SV perpetration remains unexamined. Therefore, using Minority Stress Theory as a guiding theoretical framework, the current study examined differences in heterosexist discrimination and impelling risk factors for sexual violence (SV) perpetration likelihood intentions based on perceived intoxication among sexual and gender minority (SGM) college students. SGM college students (N = 234) completed measures assessing their experiences of heterosexist discrimination, attitudes and beliefs supportive of sexism and SV, and perceived likelihood to perpetrate SV. When intoxicated and sober, main effects for impelling risk factors on sexual violence perpetration likelihood intentions were detected, and effect of heterosexist discrimination on SV perpetration likelihood was only observed at high levels of impellance. Results underscore the importance of alcohol use, experiences of heterosexist discrimination, and impelling risk factors as salient markers of risk for SV perpetration among SGM college students.