Alcohol-related Rape Among University Students

ABSTRACT

Background: Alcohol-related rape among university students is clearly a major concern. However, there have been no large-scale surveys of the prevalence of this offence among university students in the UK. The aim of the current paper is to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of alcohol-related rape among university students in seven universities in Wales.

Methods: All universities in Wales were approached to take part in the research. Eight of the nine universities agreed to take part and seven universities emailed their students as planned. On the launch date, emails were sent by the universities to all students requesting that they take part in the survey. The email contained a link to a questionnaire covering a range of topics including: demographics, lifestyle factors, and substance misuse.

Results: In total, 7,846 students submitted a questionnaire. Overall, just under six per cent of females reported being the victim of alcohol-related rape while at university compared with one per cent of males. Sexual orientation was significantly correlated with alcohol-related rape, with three per cent of heterosexuals reported being the victim of alcohol-related rape, compared with eight per cent of lesbians or gays. Students who drank alcohol frequently and those involved in binge drinking were also significantly more likely to report the offence.

Conclusions: The government and universities should play a more direct role to ensure that actions are taken to deter, prevent, and treat the consequences of these largely unreported offences.

KEYWORDS:

• university students
• alcohol
• rape
• survey
• prevalence

Notes

^1. There is some variation in the literature in the terms used to describe sexual assault and rape. In most cases, sexual assault is used to refer to an encompassing category that includes rape along with other sexual offences (Abbey, 2002). However, it is sometimes used to refer to a separate category that excludes rape (Hingson, Heeren, Winter, & Wechsler, 2005). As the law in some countries, including England and Wales (Sexual Offences Act, 2003), defines rape and sexual assault as two distinct offences, this latter definition is used in this paper unless discussing the definitions mentioned by others.

^2. The term sexual victimization is used here to cover both sexual assault and rape.

^3. It might sometimes be unclear whether the term alcohol-related rape is referring to victims or offenders. For example, the prevalence of alcohol-related rape might refer to the proportion of students who are the victims of rape or the perpetrators of rape. In this article we use the term alcohol-related rape (with no additional qualification) to refer to victims and alcohol-related rape perpetration to refer to offenders.

^4. The prevalence of alcohol-related sexual assault and rape discussed in the literature typically measures the proportion of all sexual offences rather than the proportion of all students that involve alcohol use.

^5. Aberystwyth University, Bangor University, Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Glyndwr University, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Swansea University, University of South Wales, University of Wales Trinity St David.