NCJ Number
138092
Journal
Journal of American College Health Volume: 40 Issue: 4 Dated: (January 1992) Pages: 167-171
Date Published
1992
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This study investigated the prevalence of unwanted sexual activity among 949 college women who completed a history form for routine gynecological care at the health center of a private university.
Abstract
The form contained standard questions on gynecological and menstrual history, contraception methods, sexual history, sexual dissatisfaction, and feelings of depression. With reference to the subject of this article, the women were also asked, "Have you ever experienced unwanted sexual activity?" Of the women sampled, 6.7 percent responded affirmatively to this question, far fewer than have reported such activity in anonymous surveys. These women were significantly more likely than their peers to be sexually active and to report having had abortions and pregnancies to term or having experienced sexual dissatisfaction and depression. These results highlight the tendency of sexual violence victims to underreport their experiences and indicate the importance of inquiry into unwanted sexual activity in campus primary care settings. More research, including longitudinal investigations, is needed to determine whether or not the factors this study found to be statistically significant are truly consequences of the unwanted sexual activity and to improve the definition and analysis of unwanted sexual activity and the circumstances and risk factors associated with it. 21 references