Grant: Project Grant

At least 1 in 5 women in university will be sexually assaulted. Sexual assault has many immediate and long-term health consequences, including injuries, sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, depression, substance use, post-traumatic stress, and suicide. Some experts have begun to address this problem by using intensive skill-building programs to help women avoid and resist sexual assault. Some of these programs have been quite successful, but with so many potential victims, such an intensive approach is difficult to fully implement. Furthermore, women should not bear this onus, as sexual assault is ultimately a male responsibility-98% of reported sexual assaults are committed by men. However, because a minority of men commits the majority of sexual assaults, prevention and treatment efforts will be most effective and appropriate when they focus on high-risk men in high-risk situations. Unfortunately, little is known about risk factors for future perpetration of sexual assault on campus. In this multisite study of university men, we seek to identify risk factors related to the perpetration of campus sexual assault, including first-time and repeated assaults. Here, we compare five major risk factors, including (1) deviant sexual interests, (2) psychopathic traits, (3) hostile attitudes towards women, (4) having peers who support sexually aggressive behaviour, and (5) alcohol use in sexual situations. Risk factors that most strongly predict sexual assault will be identified as future targets for prevention and early intervention. Our findings will be published in open access journals and a summary of our findings will be provided to all Canadian universities, sexual assault centres, and Provincial/Territorial Ministries of Education and Health.