Exploring Sexual Aggression in College: The Roles of Antisocial Potential, Offending Histories, and College Party Culture

Abstract

Sexual aggression is prevalent within university settings, posing a significant challenge to the well-being and safety of the academic community. The present dissertation aims to expand knowledge on sexual aggression perpetration in a Portuguese university context. This study explores the predicting role of a general and sexual history of delinquency during youth, individual antisocial attitudes, and situational aspects of the college experience - college party culture - on sexual aggression during university, also considering the interaction between these risk factors. Our sample includes data from 524 college students over 18 years old, who participated in a self-report online survey targeting the involvement in college party culture, delinquent behaviors conducted during youth, antisocial attitudes, and sexually aggressive behaviors conducted during university attendance. Results showed that the considered risk factors significantly predicted sexual aggression perpetration in college. These findings go in line with the literature linking both a sexual and general history of offending prior to university to the propensity for sexually aggressive behaviors during college attendance. Additionally, it found significant effects of both antisocial attitudes and college party culture involvement on sexual aggression perpetration, although an interaction between both risk markers was not found. Consequently, this study contributes to a better understanding of sexual aggression within Portuguese universities by offering valuable insights into the impact of various risk factors on offending groups.