3-month prevalence of unwanted sexual contact victimization in a national sample of college students: differences by race, gender identity, and sexual identity

IMPORTANCE

Most unwanted sexual contact victimization (USCV) research utilizes predominantly white, cisgender, heterosexual college student samples. Estimates of USCV prevalence and demographic variation can determine the need for dedicated funding and culturally relevant campus services for students in high-risk groups.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the national prevalence and demographic variation in self-reported USCV within the first three months of college.

DESIGN

Data are from the Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergrads (SAPU) (2020-2021) dataset. SAPU is an online intervention program administered to students on more than 600 college campuses in the United States (N = 250,359). Group differences were assessed by race/ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual identity, and then stratified by gender to assess within-gender group differences.

SETTING

The SAPU dataset includes public and private institutions and 2-year and 4-year colleges with varying sizes of enrollment.

PARTICIPANTS

The sample is demographically diverse, and consists of newly matriculated U.S. college students, most of whom complete the SAPU program within the first three months of enrollment.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome measure is self-reported USCV within the first three months of college enrollment, analyzed for subgroup differences. We hypothesized that USCV would be higher among students from racial/ethnic, gender, and sexual minority populations.

RESULTS

Nearly 8% of transgender men reported USCV, followed by 7.4% of transgender women, 7.4% of genderqueer/gender non-conforming students, 4.5% of women, and 1.5% of men. Several subgroups reported exceedingly high rates of USCV, including Black students who identified as transgender women (35.7%) and American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students who identified as trans men (55.6%) or genderqueer/gender non-conforming (41.7%).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Universal and targeted (selective and indicated) intervention programs are needed to lessen USCV, particularly among gender minority students who also identify as Black, Indigenous, other person of color, or as a sexual minority.

Dating Abuse and Harassment Among Sexual and Gender Minority U.S. College Students

Purpose: Sexual and relationship violence has devasting effects on the health and well-being of college students. This study assessed the prevalence of dating abuse victimization and harassment among sexual and gender minority (SGM) college students within the first 3 months of college enrollment and identified potential demographic differences in exposure. Methods: Data are from the 2020 to 2021 Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates digital sexual assault prevention program (N = 250,359). Descriptive statistics were used to determine 3-month prevalence of dating abuse victimization and harassment among gender identity and sexual orientation subgroups and to examine within-group differences based on race and ethnicity. Results: Dating abuse victimization during college was reported by 6.5% of transgender women, 5.0% of transgender men, 5.0% of genderqueer/nonconforming students, 2.0% of "women," and 1.0% of "men." Harassment during college was reported by 13.7% of genderqueer/nonconforming students, 11.2% of transgender women, 8.9% of transgender men, 8.7% of "women," and 1.6% of "men." Students who identified with more than one sexual orientation identity reported the highest rates of dating abuse (3.9%) and harassment (14.9%) during college. SGM students with particular racial/ethnic identities (i.e., Indigenous, multiracial) reported disproportionately higher rates, particularly American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students who identified as transgender men (42.9%), transgender women (41.7%), genderqueer/nonconforming students (26.1%), queer/pansexual/questioning students (20%), and students with multiple sexual orientation identities (36.4%). Conclusion: Targeted intervention strategies and resources are needed on college campuses to support the needs and experiences of SGM students, including students who identify as Indigenous, multiracial, and other persons of color.

Perceptions of Partner Decarceration among Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted the early release of thousands of incarcerated individuals, including those with histories of intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration. Survivor advocates stress the importance of adequate supports for decarcerated individuals during re-entry, and notification and supports for their partners or ex-partners if there is a history of IPV. This survey assessed IPV survivors' expectations of and experiences with decarceration in the state of Michigan. Findings highlight that out of 42 survivors with recently decarcerated (ex-)partners, 64.3% reported helpful behavior on the part of their released partner. By contrast, out of 72 survivors with still-incarcerated (ex-)partners, the same percentage - 64.3% - expected harmful behavior from their partner if released. Decarceration efforts may distinguish between individuals who are likely to harm versus help (ex-)partners upon release. Nonetheless, survivors reported several unmet needs, indicating the need for better re-integration services for decarcerated individuals and their families.

Men's Knowledge of Anticipatory Guidance Topics: Results From a Nationally Representative Survey

OBJECTIVE

1) To describe young men's knowledge of infant routines, discipline, development, safety, sleep, and nutrition, using items assessing the American Academy of Pediatrics Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents. 2) To report differences in knowledge between fathers and non-fathers. 3) To examine factors associated with men's greater knowledge.

METHODS

Participants were men (N = 1303) aged 18 to 35 years responding to a cross-sectional survey that was administered to a national panel established through probability sampling of the civilian, non-institutionalized US population. Survey weights allow reporting of nationally representative analyses.

RESULTS

Participants (mean age = 27; 58% white, 36% fathers) correctly answered 52% of the infant knowledge questions. Fathers and non-fathers answered 64% and 46% of the items correctly, respectively. The difference in knowledge between fathers and non-fathers was statistically significant (B = 0.16, P< .001). The subscale with the highest number of correct responses was routines (80% accuracy), followed by discipline (59% accuracy), safety (52% accuracy), sleep (51% accuracy), development (50% accuracy), and nutrition (40% accuracy). Multivariate analyses showed that depressive symptoms (B = -0.07, P < .05) were associated with lower infant knowledge, while higher education (B = 0.06, P < .05) and current employment (B = 0.06, P < .01) were associated with higher infant knowledge.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant gaps exist in men's knowledge of infant development. Pediatric health care providers can address gaps in parenting knowledge by providing anticipatory guidance to fathers.

The health of poor women under welfare reform

OBJECTIVES

We compared the health of single mothers affected by welfare reform with the health of a nationally representative sample of women to document the prevalence of poor health as single mothers experience the effects of welfare reform.

METHODS

We compared risk factors and measures of health among women randomly sampled from the welfare rolls with similar data from a nationally representative sample of women.

RESULTS

Women in our welfare recipient sample had higher rates of elevated glycosylated hemoglobin (> or = 6%; prevalence ratio [PR]=4.87; 95% confidence interval [CI]=2.69, 7.04), hypertension (systole > or = 140 or diastole > or = 90; PR=2.36; 95% CI = 1.47, 3.24), high body mass index ( > or = 30; PR = 1.78; 95% CI = 1.49, 2.08), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (< or = 35 mg/dL; PR=1.91; 95% CI=1.17, 2.65); lower peak expiratory flow; and less physical functioning. Current smoking rates were higher (PR = 1.85; 95% CI = 1.50, 2.19) and smoking cessation rates were lower (PR=0.62; 95% CI=0.37, 0.86) than in the national sample.

CONCLUSIONS

Current and former welfare recipients bear a substantial burden of illness. Further studies are necessary to interpret our findings of worsened health in the wake of welfare reform.

Long Term Employment of African-American and White Welfare Recipients and the Role of Persistent Health and Mental Health Problems

We use a panel study of Michigan current and former welfare recipients to estimate the prevalence and persistence of health problems in the post-reform welfare population and their role in women's employment. Rates of health problems were disproportionately high. Over 70 percent of current and former welfare recipients reported limitations in physical functioning; over 60 percent met the criteria for a mental health disorder measured in the study; and 37 percent reported having a child with a health problem in at least one of four interviews over a 4 1/2-year period. Women who reported physical health, mental health, or child health problems at multiple waves worked fewer months. There were no race-based differences in employment length or in physical health problems, but African-Americans were less likely than whites to meet the diagnostic screening criteria for depression, to meet criteria for general anxiety disorder, and to report a child with a health problem. These findings suggest that the inclusion of persistent health problems as determinants of work in human capital models increases understanding of the transition from welfare to work. Policies need to reexamine welfare's work requirements to encourage states to provide services and supports to recipients.

Salivary cortisol and posttraumatic stress disorder in a low-income community sample of women

BACKGROUND

Studies of male combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder have demonstrated a profile of low cortisol. Studies with women with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have focused on childhood sexual abuse and holocaust survivors, both of whom experienced trauma during development, which could be different than adult trauma exposure.

METHODS

Using an epidemiologic sample of low-income women from an urban area in Michigan, we conducted structured psychiatric interviews and saliva cortisol collection on a subsample of women with exposure to trauma but never PTSD (n = 72), recent PTSD (n = 29), and past PTSD (n = 70). Saliva cortisol was collected at awakening, 30 minutes later, at bedtime, and during a clinic visit.

RESULTS

Recent trauma exposure but not past trauma exposure led to an increase in saliva cortisol. Neither recent PTSD nor past PTSD resulted in any saliva cortisol changes compared with the trauma exposed, never PTSD group. Recent major depression (past 12 months) demonstrated a weak effect (p =.08) on bedtime saliva cortisol.

CONCLUSIONS

While recent trauma exposure can increase saliva cortisol, neither recent nor past PTSD affected saliva cortisol in our community sample of women. Our data do not support saliva cortisol changes associated with PTSD.

Inhibitory effect of (S)-HPMPC, (S)-HPMPA, and 2'-nor-cyclic GMP on clinical ocular adenoviral isolates is serotype-dependent in vitro

Currently, there is no effective treatment for ocular adenoviral infections that occur in epidemics worldwide, produce significant patient morbidity, and cause substantial economic losses. We tested several new antivirals in vitro, and found that (S)-HPMPC, (S)-HPMPA, and 2'-nor-cyclic GMP demonstrated significant serotype-dependent inhibitory activity by plaque reduction assay (ID50 = 0.017-17.0 micrograms/ml) against common clinical ocular isolates and standard adenoviral serotypes (Ad 1, Ad 5, Ad 8, and Ad 19). (S)-HPMPC was the least toxic (CD50 in A549 cells = 306 micrograms/ml), and (S)-HPMPC and (S)-HPMPA had high selectivity indices.