Abstract: Perpetrators of Sexual Violence on Campus: Using Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) Latent Class Analysis to Inform Prevention Strategies (Society for Prevention Research 25th Annual Meeting)

Schedule:

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Columbia A/B (Hyatt Regency Washington, Washington, DC)

* noted as presenting author

Carolyn M Porta, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN

Michelle A Mathiason, MS, Statistician, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN

Katherine Lust, PhD, Research Director, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN

Lena C Palacios, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN

Marla E Eisenberg, DrPH, Associate Professor, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN

Introduction. Prevention of sexual violence among college students is a national priority. Despite decades of efforts to understand behaviors of potential perpetrators, and victims, rates of sexual violence remain unacceptably high. Recent research on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) has shown them to be predictive of poor health outcomes into adulthood but has not yet explicitly examined the relationships among types of ACEs, and recent sexual violence victimization and perpetration among college students.

Methods. We conducted secondary data analysis of the 2015 College Student Health Survey, an annual survey completed by students attending 17 colleges and universities in Minnesota. The sample included 6,392 18-24-year-olds who answered at least one of four questions assessing perpetration of violence in the past 12 months (i.e., sex/sexual touch without consent, physical/verbal abuse of an intimate partner) and 11 ACEs questions [Sexual: sex/sexual touch or forced touching as child/adolescent; Non-sexual: physical/emotional abuse, parental substance use/incarceration/mental health]. Latent class analysis was conducted on the ACE items, yielding two factors: 8 non-sexual items in factor 1 and 3 sexual items in the second factor. Logistic regression models used the factors to determine odds ratios of being a perpetrator/victim, perpetrator only, or victim only, compared with none.

Results. 428 students (4.6% male; 7.5% female) reported perpetration of at least one act of sexual or non-sexual relational violence, including 29 rapes. Most students (4,820; 68%) reported experiencing at least one ACE; 523 (3.7% male; 9.1% female) reported at least one sexual ACE, including 130 (1.1% male; 2.2% female) who experienced forced sex with an adult. Males who had experienced any sexual ACE were 15 times more likely to be a perpetrator/victim [OR 15.49 (6.14-39.07)] than those who reported no ACEs; females were nearly 6 times more likely [OR 5.84 (3.49-9.75). Whereas females odds increased similarly across the sexual ACEs (ORs 1.49-2.87), males odds of being a perpetrator/victim or victim only increased substantially if they reported forced touching or sex, versus being touched sexually (ORs 7.49-13.61 vs 1.84-5.35). Non-sexual ACEs increased risks to a lesser extent.

Discussion. College students who have experienced sexual ACEs are at increased risk of perpetrating sexual and non-sexual relational violence. Screening for sexual ACEs could help identify potential perpetrators to deliver personalized preventive programming.

Abstract: Perpetrators of Sexual Violence on Campus: Using Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) Latent Class Analysis to Inform Prevention Strategies (Society for Prevention Research 25th Annual Meeting)

24 Perpetrators of Sexual Violence on Campus: Using Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) Latent Class Analysis to Inform Prevention Strategies