The relationship between non-consensual sex and risk of depression in female undergraduate students at universities in Maritime Canada

Abstract

Introduction Sexual victimization and depression are common on university campuses, especially among females, and both are associated with negative health outcomes. Most studies of relationships between non-consensual sex and depression have used broad definitions of victimization and/or have controlled poorly for confounding. Objectives This study examines whether there is an independent association between non-consensual sex and current risk of depression after controlling for related factors. Aims To better inform university health services about the psychological sequelae of non-consensual sex. Methods Cross-sectional data collected online from female students younger than age 30 at eight universities in Maritime Canada were analyzed. Non-consensual sex while at university was measured using one dichotomous item and risk of depression was measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale. All analyses were weighted and data were imputed using the Sequential Regression Multivariate Imputation (SRMI) Method. Analyses involved basic descriptive statistics, a series of unadjusted logistic regressions, and an adjusted multiple logistic regression. Results In total, 36.7% of students were at risk of depression and 6.8% had been victims of non-consensual sex while attending university. After adjusting for covariates and confounders, females who had been victimized were 2.11 times more likely to be at risk of depression than females who had not been victimized ( P Conclusions This study points to the need for more mental health support for victims of sexual victimization and more efforts to prevent sexual violence. These findings can be used to help inform university mental health services and health promotion activities.