Dissertations and Theses
Date of Award
2025
Document Type
Thesis
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Thomson Ling
Keywords
sexual violence, sexual exploitation, help-seeking, barriers, rape myths, college students
Abstract
Sexual interpersonal violence (SIPV) has significant negative impacts on college students yet there is frequent underuse of formal support resources. Consequently, understanding help-seeking for this population is vital. Current research has examined SIPV experiences, rape myth beliefs, and help-seeking barriers in isolation. However, understanding how these factors interact is crucial to understanding how to improve resources for survivors. The present study investigated the relationship among these three constructs in 89 college students who experienced unwanted sexual events after age 18. SIPV experiences, rape myth endorsement, and help-seeking barriers were all positively associated. Regression analysis revealed that four types of SIPV (non-contact, technology-facilitated, physical contact, and verbal pressure) significantly predicted barriers to help-seeking. The model predicting barriers from rape myths that minimize SIPV was also significant. Finally, the model examining the moderating effect of rape myths on the relationship between SIPV experiences and barriers in help-seeking was statistically significant, which demonstrated that experiences and beliefs should be considered together when addressing barriers in help-seeking that students may encounter. These findings highlight the need for colleges and universities to adopt inclusive SIPV definitions and actively disrupt minimizing rape myths to address cognitive/emotional barriers and facilitate survivor support.
Recommended Citation
Bedard, Caitlin N., "The Impact and Influence of Sexual Interpersonal Violence and Beliefs on Barriers in Help-Seeking for College Students" (2025). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cc_etds_theses/1239
