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College date rape: incidence and reporting
1Department of Psychology, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866-1632, USA.
Psychological Reports
|October 1, 1995
Summary
College women experiencing date rape often do not report incidents due to self-blame and embarrassment. This underreporting by victims and college authorities creates a cycle of denial, hindering prevention and treatment programs.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Criminology
- Public Health
Background:
- Date rape is a significant issue on college campuses.
- Underreporting of sexual assault is a well-documented phenomenon.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of date rape among college women.
- To understand the reasons behind the non-reporting of date rape incidents.
- To highlight the impact of underreporting on prevention and treatment efforts.
Main Methods:
- A survey was conducted among a random sample of 200 women at a college.
- A response rate of 70% (N=140) was achieved.
- Data collected focused on experiences of date rape and reporting behaviors.
Main Results:
- 5% of surveyed women reported experiencing date rape.
- None of the victims reported the incidents to authorities.
- Self-blame and embarrassment were identified as primary reasons for non-reporting.
Conclusions:
- The high rate of non-reporting perpetuates a cycle of denial regarding the occurrence of date rape.
- Lack of reporting by victims and institutional denial by college authorities impede the development of effective prevention and treatment programs.
- Addressing victim self-blame and institutional attitudes is crucial for combating date rape on campuses.