A longitudinal study of interest and membership in a fraternity, rape myth acceptance, and proclivity to perpetrate sexual assault

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study explored the relation between interest and membership in a fraternity and acceptance of sexual violence (eg, rape myth acceptance, proclivity to perpetrate sexual aggression) among first year college men. Participants: A total of 315 men were surveyed before their first year of college (June–August 2010) and again at 4 time points over the next year. Methods: Participants responded to measures of rape myth acceptance and proclivity to perpetrate sexual aggression. Results: Interested members scored higher on proclivity to perpetrate sexual aggression and some rape myths than noninterested nonmembers; interested nonmembers scored in between the 2 groups. Conclusions: Results highlight the importance of considering both fraternity membership and interest in joining a fraternity, as well as examining individual rape myths, in studies of fraternity membership and sexual violence.

KEYWORDS:

• Fraternity membership
• proclivity to perpetrate
• rape myths
• sexual assault

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of USA and received approval from the Institutional Review Board of Rutgers University.

Additional information

Funding

No funding was used to support this research and/or the preparation of the manuscript.