Sexual Coercion, Verbal Aggression, and Condom Use Consistency Among College Students

• Published in: Journal of American college health Vol. 59; no. 4; pp. 273 - 280
• Main Authors: Fair, Cynthia D., Vanyur, Jennifer
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis Group 01.01.2011; Routledge; Taylor & Francis Inc
• Subjects: Adolescent; Aggression; Aggression - psychology; Aggressiveness; alcohol; Alcohol consumption; Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology; Antisocial Behavior; At Risk Persons; Coercion; College students; Condoms; Condoms - statistics & numerical data; Condoms - utilization; Conflict Tactics Scale; Correlation; Dating (Social); Domestic violence; Drinking; Female; gender; Health Behavior; health education; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Intimacy; intimate partner violence; Male; Multivariate Analysis; Pennsylvania; Prevention; Psychometrics; Risk Factors; Risk-Taking; Sex Factors; Sexual Abuse; Sexual behavior; Sexual Behavior - psychology; Sexual Behavior - statistics & numerical data; Sexuality; Spouse Abuse - psychology; Spouse Abuse - statistics & numerical data; Spouses; Students - psychology; Students - statistics & numerical data; Undergraduate Students; United States (Southeast); Universities - statistics & numerical data; Verbal aggression; Verbal Behavior; Verbal Communication; Violence; Young Adult; Pennsylvania; United States > US
• ISSN: 0744-8481; 1940-3208
• DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2010.508085

Objective: The relationship between condom use and 2 less visible categories of intimate partner violence (IPV), sexual coercion and verbal aggression, was examined among college students. Methods: In March 2007 a random cross-sectional sample of undergraduates from the southeast region of the United States was taken to collect information about sexual coercion and verbal aggression, in addition to condom use consistency. Alcohol use was also assessed. Results: Of the 142 participants, 31.7% reported being victims of sexual coercion, and 78% reported having verbally aggressive partners. Participants who reported experiencing sexual coercion in their relationship were significantly less likely to consistently use condoms. Additionally, alcohol use before or during episodes of verbal aggression was negatively associated with condom use. Alcohol use was also significantly associated with heightened incidents of coercion and aggression. Conclusions: Results indicate that among college students, the presence of sexual coercion adversely affects condom use, as does alcohol use.