Sexual Violence Victimization and Pregaming Protective Behavioral Strategies Among College Students

Abstract

Background Sexual violence is a major public health concern that has a detrimental impact on mental health, physical health, and academic performance. College students represent a population that is at an increased risk of experiencing sexual violence. Alcohol use, and more specifically, heavy drinking during pregaming events, is associated with increased risk of sexual violence. Studies have demonstrated that protective behavioral strategies have effectively reduced heavy drinking and the risk of alcohol-related consequences, including sexual violence victimization. Objectives This study aims to examine the association between experiences of sexual violence in college and subsequent use of pregaming protective strategies. Results Data from 468 college students (67% female, 33% male) were analyzed. Over 42% of participants reported experiencing sexual violence in college. While adjusting for pregaming frequency and sex, results revealed that those who reported experiencing sexual violence in college were significantly less likely to use pregaming protective behavioral strategies compared to those without such experiences. Specifically, survivors of sexual violence were less likely to report using the protective behavioral strategies of minimizing intoxication, as well as behaviors related to safety and familiarity (e.g., using a designated driver after pregaming). Conclusions The findings have important implications for interventions aimed at empowering survivors of sexual violence. Future research should focus on understanding survivor’s motives and mechanisms to use pregaming protective behavioral strategies to reduce the risk of re-victimization.