A Study of Attitudes Toward Teacher-Student Sexual Misconduct Cases Based on Student Age, Student Gender, and Teacher Gender

ABSTRACT

Teacher-student sexual misconduct is a serious instance of child sexual abuse that impacts an estimated 10% of students. We tested whether two effects seen in research about these types of cases replicated across online American adult and undergraduate samples: (1) sympathy toward younger students who experience sexual abuse compared to older students and (2) leniency in cases of female teachers engaging with male students compared to other gender dyads. Participants (N = 525) reviewed a mock teacher-student sexual encounter and then answered questions about their views and case-related outcomes. Student age emerged as the most influential factor across all our variables of interest, where cases with younger students were viewed as more egregious than those involving older students. Incidents involving boys who experienced abuse were perceived as more “normal” than those involving girls. We found some support for the idea that there is leniency toward women teachers, but limited support for a female teacher-male student leniency effect. While these cases were viewed to be more normal and acceptable than other gender dyads, there were no effects on the other dependent variables. Sample type effects were also minimal, as our adult sample viewed the teachers involved to be more responsible and student complainants as more credible versus the undergraduate sample.

KEYWORDS:

• Teacher-student sexual misconduct
• sample differences
• child sexual abuse
• student gender
• teacher gender
• student age

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethics approval

This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the University of Toledo, IRB # 201426, on August 11, 2016.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the American Psychology-Law Society.

Notes on contributors

Twila Wingrove

Twila Wingrove, JD, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and serves as Director of Research Design & Analysis in the Office of Research & Innovation at Appalachian State University. She researches public perceptions of and legal system reactions to cases involving violence against women and children.

Alissa Anderson Call

Alissa Anderson Call, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Black Hills State University. Her research focuses on jury decision making for cases involving sexual abuse and assault. She is also interested in factors that affect reporting domestic violence and campus sexual assault.

Hannah Clark

Hannah Clark, MA, is a Senior Data Analyst on the People Team at Southern New Hampshire University and a Data and Research Analyst at CXLogic. She completed her undergraduate studies at Black Hills State University and her graduate studies at Appalachian State University, serving as a lab manager for collaborative labs at both institutions. She specializes in data analytics and training evaluation strategy.

Bailey Chenevert

Bailey Chenevert is a Research Analyst for the Supreme Court of Virginia. In 2023, she graduated from Appalachian State University with a Master of Arts in Experimental Psychology. She lives in Richmond, VA with her husband and dog.

Elizabeth Pearce

Elizabeth Pearce, MA, is a Research Associate with the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine. Her work is in support of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Science’s Military and Emergency Medicine Department.