Coercive sexual behavior among Mexican-American college students

Abstract

This study investigates the self-reported occurrences of coercive sexual behavior among Mexican-American college students and compares the results with Anglo-American college students. College class standing, income, total number in the household, the presence of male siblings, and age were used as independent variables. Two hundred and forty-two female college students (53% Mexican-American, 47% Anglo-American), from introductory psychology classes completed a survey concerning violence occurring in dating situations. Being the victim of date rape was reported by 11.4% of the Mexican-American students, while Anglo-Americans reported 16.4% incidence, this was not a statistically significant difference. Unwanted sexual advances, other than intercourse, were reported by 36.6% of all female respondents, and 48.8% had experienced at least one kind of physical violence or threat in dating situations. Similarities with other researchers' findings and implications are reported.