University Students Who Provide Sexual Acts or Materials for Pay or Compensation before and/or during University: A Latent Class Analysis of Consequences at a Public Midwestern University

Background Young adults provide sexual services, acts, or materials for pay or financial compensation (SSAMP) and are at risk for adverse consequences. Studies suggests that up to 13.7% of university students report providing SSAMP in their lifetimes, and that these students are more likely to experience economic and social minoritization (e.g., LGBTQ+, disabled). Many students report providing SSAMP to please someone and/or because they were pressured in a way that they could not say no, most commonly by an intimate partner. However, whether students are providing SSAMP while enrolled in university, and the circumstances under which they experience diverse consequences of SSAMP, remains unclear.

The aims of this study were to: (1) identify university students who report providing SSAMP in their lifetimes, before and during university; and (2) describe the typologies of SSAMP consequences.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to undergraduate and graduate students at a Midwestern public university. Participants included 900 students (M_age = 22.27 years [SD = 4.91]); 59.7% cisgender women; 52.2% white) who completed demographic questionnaires and the SSAMP Index, which assessed SSAMP types, circumstances, and perceived health, violence, and financial consequences. Consequences were both positive (e.g., paying debts) and negative (e.g., worse mental health).

Aim 1: We conducted descriptive statistics on SSAMP items during lifetime, and pre- and during university.

Aim 2: Participants included 137 students who endorsed at least one SSAMP item and completed follow-up items on their reasons for and consequences from SSAMP. Latent Class Analysis was conducted to identify typologies of SSAMP consequences using 21 indicator variables reflecting 5 financial consequences, 10 health consequences, and 6 social consequences. Comparisons of classes were conducted based on LGBTQ+ membership, economic need, disability, frequency of and reasons for SSAMP (including victimization, empowerment, economic).

Results:

Aim 1: Almost 16% (n=143) reported providing SSAMP in their lifetime; 14.2% (n=128) while at university; and 13.1% (n=118) before university. Those who provide SSAMP before and/or during university (rather than university only) report high percentages of financial and coercive reasons and resulting negative consequences.

Aim 2: A two-class model was the best fit for the data revealing that that the “more consequences” group (class 1) was distinguished from “less consequences” group (class 2) on nearly all perceived consequences, except increased self-esteem.

Those with “more consequences” were more likely to be LGBTQ+ and disabled, and to report (1) higher frequency of SSAMP items, (2) financial reasons (e.g., paying off debt), (3) being pressured into providing SSAMP, and (4) providing SSAMP to please others. Economic needs and Pell grant status approached but did not reach significance.

Conclusions and Implications: This is the first study to quantitatively establish that university students provide SSAMP before and during university. Students experience diverse health and interpersonal consequences that are shaped by coercion, economic needs/wants, and social minoritization. Harm reducing practices and policies that support students’ agency and wellbeing may be crucial to reduce negative consequences. Future research should examine the role of social minoritization and campus policies in improving health outcomes for students who provide SSAMP.