These summaries were written by SVPEP staff and are based on original papers published within the last 2 years. The information available on this web site is provided as a public service and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the Arizona Department of Health Services, or the University of Arizona. To conduct an individual search or locate older articles use the Search Summary Database which includes over 600 articles related to sexual violence.

Lacasse, A. & Mendelson, M. J. (2007). Sexual coercion among adolescents: Victims and perpetrators. Violence Against Women, 22, 424-437. [Posted April 2007]

Key Points: In a small sample of students in Grades 8-11, sexist beliefs were associated with being a victim of sexual harassment or coercion among girls and with perpetrating sexual harassment or coercion among boys.

Summary: Students in a suburban Quebec school were asked if other students had verbally harassed them, made non-coercive sexual contact (e.g., unwanted kissing) or attempted to obtain sexual favors using blackmail or force in the previous 3 months. They were also asked if they had perpetrated those acts on another student. The study included 37 students who reported being victimized and 21 who reported perpetrating the behavior. These groups were then compared with a matched control sample of students. Female students who were victims (n=27) were more likely to endorse sexist attitudes than other girls; boys who were perpetrators were more likely to endorse sexist attitudes than other boys. All victims were more likely to use drugs and alcohol than controls or perpetrators. Both victims and perpetrators were involved with more deviant behaviors than controls.

Limitations: The study included a small sample size; students were only asked about peer-related behaviors outside of romantic relationships, which may have resulted in underreporting of victimization; and the perceived severity of the experiences was not assessed.

Topics: adolescent/high school; harassment; myths/stereotypes; perpetration

Mitchell, K. J., Wolak, J., & Finkelhor, D.  (2008). Are blogs putting youth at risk for online sexual solicitation or harassment?  Child Abuse & Neglect, 32, 277-294.  [Posted August 2008]
 
Key Points: Youth that interact with those they meet online, regardless of whether or not they blog or post personal information, were more at risk of online sexual solicitations.

Summary: A national telephone survey of 1,500 youth between ages 10-17 was conducted in 2005. The survey examined online sexual solicitation and harassment.  Youth were divided into 3 categories; those who kept an online journal (bloggers), those who interacted with people known in person (interactors), and those who interacted with people they met online (interactors).   The findings suggested that it is the actual interaction youth conduct with people they meet online that increases the likelihood of solicitation that may lead to sexual victimization.  Youth who were interactors were 2 times more likely to report sexual solicitation regardless if they were bloggers.  Bloggers who were not interactors were not found to have an increased risk of solicitation.  All youth who were bloggers and/or interactors were found to have an increased risk for harassment.
 
Limitations:  There was a low response rate of .45 to the survey.

Topics: adolescent/high school, harassment, media/internet

Omerod, A. J., Collinsworth, L. L., & Perry, L. A.  (2008). Critical climate: Relations among sexual harassment, climate, and outcomes for high school girls and boys.  Psychology of Women Quarterly, 32, 113-125. [Posted August 2008]

Key Points:  School climates that tolerate harassment of girls are associated with direct negative effects on girls and indirect, negative effects on boys and girls.

Summary:  Seniors from 7 public schools in a Midwestern state participated in a study that examined the relationship among peer-to-peer sexual harassment, school climate, adult-to-student harassment and the psychological and physical well being, school withdrawal and safety outcomes among students.  Relationships of the variables and outcomes were measured separately for boys and girls.  The findings suggested high rates of reported peer sexual harassment but the meanings or experiences of the behaviors were different for boys and girls.  Overall, both genders experienced damaging effects of harassment and school climate was related to feeling unsafe, withdrawal, and low self-esteem.  Girls experienced more peer harassment than boys, but boys experienced negative consequences regardless if they were the targets of the harassment.  Both genders suffered when harassment was perceived to be tolerated by teachers and administrators.  

Limitations:  Data was collected only from seniors and may not be generalizable to experiences of younger students.

Topics: adolescent/high school, harassment

Young, A., Young, A. & Fullwood, H. (2007). Adolescent online victimization. The Prevention Researcher, 14, 8-9. [Posted April 2007]

Key Points: As Internet use becomes more common, the number of youth exposed to online sexual solicitation, sexual material, and harassment (sexual or bullying) has increased.

Summary: In a review of three recent studies, the authors estimated national prevalence of online victimization of youth at 13% for sexual solicitation; 34% for exposure to unwanted sexual material; and 9% for any type of harassment. The majority of incidents was not distressing and was not reported to adults.

Risk factors for online victimization included older age (youth 14-17 were at higher risk than younger children) and gender (girls were more likely to experience sexual solicitation or harassment than boys). In one study, 60% of youth gave out personal information in an online questionnaire or form. About 45% gave that information to someone they had met online.

Possible prevention strategies include frank discussion by adults about Internet victimization so that youth are better equipped to avoid it and deal with it if it happens. The authors recommended making youth aware of the possible consequences of sharing personal information online. Adults can also prepare youth to take action if they are victimized: removing themselves from the situation; changing screen name; and reporting the incident to prevent others from being victimized.

Topics: adolescent/high school; harassment; media/ internet; prevalence; prevention; risk

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Updated 09/19/08