Risk of unwanted sex for college women: evidence for a red zone.
OBJECTIVE
University and college health and counseling centers frequently warn female students about the red zone-a period early in a student's first year at college during which she may be at higher risk for unwanted sexual experiences (UWS). The authors designed this study to assess temporal risk for UWS in 1st- and 2nd-year college women.


METHODS
In March 2006, the authors randomly selected 50 first-year and 52 second-year students (representing one-sixth of each class year) to complete a modified Sexual Experiences Survey.


RESULTS
First-year women were at higher risk for UWS than were second-year women--particularly, early in the fall semester. The authors observed a significant linear effect during participants' combined first years in school, with more reports of UWS occurring early in the year.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides support for a red zone and highlights the need for investigating local norms for UWS.
Kimble
Matthew
M
Department of Psychology, Middlebury College, Vermont 05753, USA. mkimble@middlebury.edu
Neacsiu
Andrada D
AD
Flack
William F
WF
Horner
Jessica
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D012306:Risk; D012737:Sex Factors; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult