An Examination of the Incidence of An Examination of the Incidence of Sexual, Physical, and Psychological Abuse Sexual, Physical, and Psychological Abuse and Sexual Harassment on a College and Sexual Harassment on a College Campus among Underrepresented Campus among Underrepresented PopulationsPopulations

LaVerne McQuiller Williams, JD, ABD, Associate Professor, LaVerne McQuiller Williams, JD, ABD, Associate Professor, Rochester Institute of TechnologyRochester Institute of Technology

Judy Porter, PhD, Assistant Professor, Rochester Institute of Judy Porter, PhD, Assistant Professor, Rochester Institute of TechnologyTechnology

Prepared for Western Society of Criminology ConferencePrepared for Western Society of Criminology ConferenceHonolulu, Hawaii February 5, 2010Honolulu, Hawaii February 5, 2010

Previous ResearchPrevious ResearchIncident rates for dating violence and sexual harassment among college Incident rates for dating violence and sexual harassment among college students. students.

Physical violencePhysical violence = 20 percent to 50 percent (Cornelius et al. 2009; = 20 percent to 50 percent (Cornelius et al. 2009; Straus and Ramirez 2007; Straus 2004; Shook et al. 2000; White Straus and Ramirez 2007; Straus 2004; Shook et al. 2000; White and Koss 1991)and Koss 1991)

Psychological abusePsychological abuse = 70 percent to 88 percent (Cornelius et al. = 70 percent to 88 percent (Cornelius et al.

2009; Nuefeld et al. 1999; White and Koss 1991) 2009; Nuefeld et al. 1999; White and Koss 1991) Sexual AbuseSexual Abuse = = 12 percent to 25 percent (Gidycz et al. 2008; 12 percent to 25 percent (Gidycz et al. 2008;

Fisher et al., 2000; Rubenzahl and Corcoran 1998; Koss et al. 1987)Fisher et al., 2000; Rubenzahl and Corcoran 1998; Koss et al. 1987) Sexual HarassmentSexual Harassment= = 30 percent to 35 percent (Belknap and Erez 30 percent to 35 percent (Belknap and Erez

1995).1995).

Previous ResearchPrevious Research

Few studies have addressed whether there are Few studies have addressed whether there are differences in the incidence and/or nature of such differences in the incidence and/or nature of such victimization experiences by race, ethnicity victimization experiences by race, ethnicity (Straus and Ramirez 2007; Smith et al., 2005; (Straus and Ramirez 2007; Smith et al., 2005; Rouse 1989), and/or sexual orientation (Duncan Rouse 1989), and/or sexual orientation (Duncan 1990). 1990).

Studies regarding victimization among students Studies regarding victimization among students with disabilities, particularly those who are Deaf with disabilities, particularly those who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing, are especially scarce . or Hard-of-Hearing, are especially scarce .

Data CollectionData Collection

Survey instrument administered in Spring Quarter Survey instrument administered in Spring Quarter 2004 and Spring Quarter 20062004 and Spring Quarter 2006

Simple random sample of Liberal Arts classes (open Simple random sample of Liberal Arts classes (open to all majors); over-sampled NTID students (because to all majors); over-sampled NTID students (because they do not take the same Liberal Arts classes) they do not take the same Liberal Arts classes)

Survey administered in classes; respondents were Survey administered in classes; respondents were required to sign a separate informed consentrequired to sign a separate informed consent

Data CollectionData Collection

2004 n=954, Response Rate = 97.2%2004 n=954, Response Rate = 97.2%

2006 n= 987, Response Rate = 98.3%2006 n= 987, Response Rate = 98.3% A total of 1,941 students filled out the surveys. A total of 1,941 students filled out the surveys.

After removing cases with missing data, the final After removing cases with missing data, the final sample size for this study is 1,881. sample size for this study is 1,881.

MeasuresMeasures

SEXUAL ABUSE (Sexual Experiences Survey, Koss et al., 1987)

Verbal threats of sex against your will Sexual touching against your will Attempted sexual penetration (vaginal, anal, or

oral) against your will Sexual penetration (vaginal, anal, or oral) against

your will

MeasuresMeasures

PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE (Conflicts Tactic PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE (Conflicts Tactic

Scales, Straus and Gelles, 1986)Scales, Straus and Gelles, 1986)

Insults/swearingInsults/swearing Put you down in front of friends/familyPut you down in front of friends/family Threatened to hit/throw something at youThreatened to hit/throw something at you

MeasuresMeasures

PHYSICAL ABUSE (CTS, Straus and Gelles, 1986)PHYSICAL ABUSE (CTS, Straus and Gelles, 1986)

Pushed, grabbed or shoved youPushed, grabbed or shoved you Slapped youSlapped you Kicked/bit youKicked/bit you Beat you upBeat you up Hit/tried to hit you with somethingHit/tried to hit you with something Choked youChoked you Threatened you with a knife/gunThreatened you with a knife/gun

MeasuresMeasures

SEXUAL HARASSMENT (Belknap and Erez 1995)SEXUAL HARASSMENT (Belknap and Erez 1995) Unwelcome remarks of a sexual nature from studentsUnwelcome remarks of a sexual nature from students Unwelcome remarks of a sexual nature from Unwelcome remarks of a sexual nature from faculty/stafffaculty/staff Unwelcome touching from studentsUnwelcome touching from students Unwelcome touching from faculty/staffUnwelcome touching from faculty/staff Repeated pressures for dates/sex. activity from studentsRepeated pressures for dates/sex. activity from students Repeated pressures for dates/sex. activity from Repeated pressures for dates/sex. activity from

faculty/stafffaculty/staff Unwanted online messages of a sexual nature through Unwanted online messages of a sexual nature through email, chat rooms, message boards, or discussion email, chat rooms, message boards, or discussion

forumsforums

ResultsResults

Auditory status is significantly related to all four Auditory status is significantly related to all four types of victimization for both genders combined types of victimization for both genders combined but is more salient for males than for females.but is more salient for males than for females.

Deaf/hard of hearing: 1.5 times more likely to be Deaf/hard of hearing: 1.5 times more likely to be a victim of sexual harassment, sexual assault, a victim of sexual harassment, sexual assault, psychological abuse, and physical abuse. psychological abuse, and physical abuse. – Twice as likely to report sexual harassmentTwice as likely to report sexual harassment

Deaf/Hard of Hearing FemalesDeaf/Hard of Hearing Females

Females who identified as deaf or hard of Females who identified as deaf or hard of hearing were not significantly more likely hearing were not significantly more likely to report sexual harassment, sexual to report sexual harassment, sexual assault, or psychological abuse.assault, or psychological abuse.

Deaf or hard of hearing females were Deaf or hard of hearing females were nearly 2/3 more likely to report physical nearly 2/3 more likely to report physical abuse. abuse.

Deaf/Hard of Hearing MalesDeaf/Hard of Hearing Males

Deaf/hard of hearing males twice as likely to report Deaf/hard of hearing males twice as likely to report any type of victimizationany type of victimization

– 2 ½ times as likely to report sexual harassment2 ½ times as likely to report sexual harassment

– More than twice as likely to report sexual assault More than twice as likely to report sexual assault and psychological abuseand psychological abuse

– Nearly 3 times as likely to report physical abuseNearly 3 times as likely to report physical abuse

– Auditory status for males appears to be an Auditory status for males appears to be an important predictor of victimizationimportant predictor of victimization

GLBO GLBO

Sexual orientation significant for all types Sexual orientation significant for all types of victimizationof victimization

Significant for psychological harassment Significant for psychological harassment (nearly 2 times as likely), psychological (nearly 2 times as likely), psychological abuse (1 ½ times as likely), sexual assault abuse (1 ½ times as likely), sexual assault (3 ½ times as likely), and physical abuse (3 ½ times as likely), and physical abuse (1 ½ times as likely).(1 ½ times as likely).

Female LBOFemale LBO

Twice as likely to report sexual assault and Twice as likely to report sexual assault and psychological abuse and 1 ½ times as likely to psychological abuse and 1 ½ times as likely to report physical abuse. report physical abuse.

Females who are also deaf/HH only significant Females who are also deaf/HH only significant for physical abusefor physical abuse

Living on campus doubled the likelihood of Living on campus doubled the likelihood of sexual harassmentsexual harassment

Living alone was twice as likely to report sexual Living alone was twice as likely to report sexual assaultassault– 70% more likely to report psychological abuse70% more likely to report psychological abuse

Male GBOMale GBO

7 times more likely to report sexual assault7 times more likely to report sexual assault 2 ½ times more likely to report sexual 2 ½ times more likely to report sexual

harassmentharassment Living on campus decreased the odds of Living on campus decreased the odds of

psychological abusepsychological abuse Living alone increased the likelihood of Living alone increased the likelihood of

sexual assaultsexual assault

Housing Housing

Living on campus – increased risk for Living on campus – increased risk for sexual harassment and sexual assaultsexual harassment and sexual assault

but decreased risk for psychological abusebut decreased risk for psychological abuse Living alone doubled the risk of sexual Living alone doubled the risk of sexual

assaultassault

In sumIn sum

Deaf/HH – while females were not Deaf/HH – while females were not significantly different for all outcomes significantly different for all outcomes except reporting physical abuse, males except reporting physical abuse, males were significantly more towere significantly more to report sexual report sexual harassment, sexual assault, harassment, sexual assault, psychological abuse, and physical abusepsychological abuse, and physical abuse– Auditory status for males appears to Auditory status for males appears to

be an important predictor of be an important predictor of victimizationvictimization

GLBOGLBO

Sexual orientation was significant Sexual orientation was significant for all types of victimizationfor all types of victimization

Male GBO were 7 times more Male GBO were 7 times more likely to report sexual assaultlikely to report sexual assault

Future Research and Future Research and LimitationsLimitations Results provide data/information on Results provide data/information on

relatively unexamined populations and relatively unexamined populations and suggest that these students are often suggest that these students are often victimized at higher rates than those in the victimized at higher rates than those in the majority population.majority population.

Future Research and Future Research and LimitationsLimitations LimitationsLimitations

1) Data were obtained by self report.1) Data were obtained by self report.

2) Data for physical abuse does not 2) Data for physical abuse does not

account for extent of injuries.account for extent of injuries.

3) Findings may not generalize beyond 3) Findings may not generalize beyond

particular sample. particular sample.

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