Factors Related to Mental Health and Perceptions of Safety on Campus for Sexual Minority Survivors of College Sexual Assault

Background and purpose: Sexual minority college students are significantly more likely to experience sexual assault during college than heterosexual students. Survivors of college sexual assault often experience anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Sexual assault is also associated with lower perceptions of safety on campus in college samples. This study investigates the following research question: What factors are associated with mental health and perceptions of safety for sexual minority survivors of campus sexual assault? It is hypothesized that campus climate, levels of support and institutional response all uniquely contribute to mental health and safety amongst this population.

Methods: Participants were recruited for this cross-sectional study through an anonymous, on-line survey. The survey was distributed using paid advertisements on three social media sites (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, and Reddit). Ultimately, 128 individuals met the study criteria. All participants were current undergraduate college students in the United State (U.S), over the age of 18 and had experienced sexual assault while attending their current college. Additionally, all participants identified as a sexual minority. Participants attended colleges in all 50 states of the U.S. The majority of participants attended public colleges (59.1%, n = 75), while the remainder attended private colleges (39.4%, n = 50). The average age of participants in the sample was 20.8 years.

Results: Multiple regression was used to assess the ability of five independent variables (Perceptions of Institutional Response, Perceived Social Support, LGBTQ Campus Climate, Disclosure, and Support After Disclosure) to predict levels of anxiety, after controlling for gender identity, and racial background. The total variance explained by the model as a whole was 25.3%, F (7, 97) = 4.69, p < .001. Three independent variables were statistically significant, with Disclosure contributing the highest beta value (beta = -.296, p = .013) followed by Perceptions of Institutional Response (beta = -293, p = .010) and Perceived Social Support (beta = -.191, p = .048). The same independent variables were used to predict perceptions of safety. The total variance explained by that model as a whole was 42.8%, F (7, 101) = 10.80, p < .001. Three independent variables were statistically significant, with Perceptions of Institutional Response contributing the highest beta value (beta = .408, p < .001), followed by LGBTQ Campus Climate (beta = -.240, p = .012) and Perceived Social Support (beta = .222, p = .007). Linear regression models with the same independent variables, that predicted depression and stress, were not statistically significant.

Conclusions and Implications: The results indicate that perceptions of institutional response to sexual assault and levels of social support uniquely predict levels of anxiety and perceptions of safety for these survivors. Additionally, whether or not a participant disclosed to someone about the assault was a significant predictor of anxiety and the campus climate for sexual minority students was a predictor of safety perceptions. Implications from these findings suggest the importance of how colleges frame and discuss their response process to students as well as the intersection of victim advocacy and work that centers equity and inclusion.