Abstract
Purpose
This paper examined risk for interpersonal violence (family or dating violence, sexual harassment, or sexual violence) perpetration using individual- and campus-level factors to understand how variations in campus culture and environment might shape risk of perpetration.
Method
We conducted a secondary data analysis of data collected from 23,389 students at 12 universities that participated in a bystander intervention program evaluation from 2016 to 2019. We used multilevel logistic regression to analyze individual- (e.g., gender, association with risky peers, binge drinking) and campus-level factors (e.g., campus diversity, perceived institutional intolerance for sexual misconduct). The primary outcome was interpersonal violence perpetration.
Results
Individual- and campus-level variables were associated with perpetration. Perpetration risk factors included being younger, a cisgender man, in a relationship, associating with risky peers, and having drinking problems. At the campus-level, increased ethnic diversity, higher perceptions of institutional intolerance for sexual misconduct, and being on a campus in which students reported more awareness of or exposure to sexual violence programming was associated with reduced perpetration risk.
Conclusions
These findings highlight how campus-level factors contribute to risk of interpersonal violence perpetration. We recommend campuses develop prevention programs that target campus-level structures, attitudes, and norms that may encourage interpersonal violence perpetration.
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This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. The parent study was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Cooperative Agreement U01CE002668. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had a supervisory role in the design and conduct of the parent study but had no direct role in the collection, management, analysis, or interpretation of the data; the preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; or the decision to submit the manuscript for publications. The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Nason, J.A., Mennicke, A., Moylan, C.A. et al. Campus- and Individual-Level Predictors of Risk for Interpersonal Violence Perpetration. J Fam Viol (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-023-00670-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-023-00670-z