Prevalence of Sex-Based and Sexual Orientation-Based Violence Experiences in Vocational Education and Training

This study investigates the prevalence of experiences of sex-based and sexual orientation-based violence-including physical, verbal, psychological (i.e., negative rumors and lies), and online violence-among vocational education and training (VET) students in Switzerland (N = 1,261). Data were collected over 3 years (from 2020 to 2023) from both female and male students, and nonheterosexual and heterosexual students, across various VET fields of study (categorized as male-dominated, female-dominated, and sex-balanced). Furthermore, we gathered information on the contexts and perpetrators of experiences of violence. Analyses were conducted using Chi-square tests and odd ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Results revealed that female and nonheterosexual students were significantly more likely to experience all forms of violence compared to their male and heterosexual counterparts. By the end of their training, 24.8% of female students and 22.7% of nonheterosexual students reported having experienced verbal violence related to their sex or sexual orientation in the previous year, compared to 9% of male students and 3.1% of heterosexual students. Notably, sex-based violence against female students was most prevalent in male-dominated fields. In contrast, nonheterosexual students faced heightened risks of sexual orientation-based violence in both male-dominated and sex-balanced fields. These findings provide a precise view of the prevalence of sex-based and sexual orientation-based violence experienced by VET students within the Swiss context. They underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to mitigate violence.