Understanding Sexual Victimization Among College Women: A Multivariate Analysis of Campus and Individual Level Factors

Abstract

This dissertation examines the association between sexual victimization among college womenand individual- and campus-level factors using a nationally representative dataset. Specifically, it explores whether a higher proportion of same-sex and same-race peers provides a protective buffer against sexual victimization. The study controls for known risk factors, such as class standing, sexual orientation, and living situation, and investigates how institutional characteristics like enrollment size and student body composition influence the likelihood of victimization and formal reporting. Key findings reveal that first-year and sophomore students are less likely to report victimization than seniors, non-heterosexual women face a higher risk for attempted rape and sexual coercion, and students living in sorority housing or off-campus are more vulnerable to certain forms of sexual exploitation. Additionally, a higher percentage of same-race peers is associated with a lower likelihood of attempted sexual coercion. These findings contribute to the growing literature on sexual exploitation in higher education, highlighting the need for larger and more comprehensive datasets to fully capture the complexity of campus-level influences on sexual exploitation. Understanding these relationships is critical for developing more effective prevention strategies.