Trends in Alcohol-Related Campus Violence: Implications for Prevention

• NCJ Number: 178374
• Journal: Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education Volume: 43 Issue: 3 Dated: Spring 1998 Pages: 34-52
• Author(s): Mary E. Nicholson; Dolores W. Maney; Karen Blair; Patricia M. Wamboldt; Beverly Saxton Mahoney; Jianping Yuan
• Date Published: 1998
• Length: 19 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study assesses the frequency of college students' involvement in both non-sexual and sexual violence, explores the frequency of alcohol involvement with these incidents, compares these data with previous data, and discusses the status of violence intervention on college campuses.

Abstract

An association between students' alcohol consumption and dating violence has been reported in the literature since the early 1950s; and recently, other types of alcohol-related aggression have been documented on college campuses. Accurate statistics have been difficult to assemble due to the reluctance of institutions to publicize campus crime and student aggression records despite Federal laws enacted in 1992 that require campus crime reports. The current study collected data in 1994 (n=1,087) and 1996 (n=950) at a large northeastern university. A 49-item questionnaire was administered to subjects to assess the frequency of violent assaults experienced by both victims and perpetrators. Findings show consistent alcohol use in reported cases of both sexual and non-sexual violence. Although these results could have been confounded by the simultaneous use of alcohol and other drugs, because of the relatively low level of other drugs used on this campus, only alcohol-use data were collected. In 1996, three times as many females as males said they were the victims of unwanted sexual activity, and approximately 85 percent of both these groups said that alcohol was involved. This finding, which documents the association between sexual violence and alcohol use, concurs with findings of several previous studies. Primary prevention efforts directed at alcohol-related violence should be at the forefront of any well- coordinated commitment by colleges to combat these crimes. Solutions will require not only effective interventions, but changes in campus traditions, norms, and culture. 6 tables and 45 references