Protective Factors for College Men’s Endorsement of Rape Myths

ABSTRACT

Rape myth acceptance (RMA) is associated with several negative outcomes including the perpetration of gender-based sexual violence among men. Little research has examined protective factors for RMA, especially when accounting for differing types of myths. This study sampled 230 college men to understand protective factors for RMA. The findings indicate that empathy and attitudes supportive of sexual consent are protective for RMA with additional protective patterns of effects for individual rape myths. These findings suggest the importance of empathy and sexual consent education for college men. Prevention interventions might work to increase these protective factors and lower RMA as a result.

KEYWORDS:

• Rape myths
• protective factors
• college
• campus
• sexual violence

Disclosure statement

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

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the University of Central Florida, Center for Behavioral Health Research and Training.