title: The role of rape myth acceptance in the social norms regarding sexual behavior among college students.
abstract: This study examined the antecedents for the acceptance of rape myths. The information motivation behavioral skills model was the basis for this study. In this cross-sectional study at a northeastern university, 237 students consented to participate in an online survey examining knowledge, social norms regarding sexual behavior, future time perspective, and rape myth acceptance (RMA). The majority of the sample was female. Forty-one percent believed that a woman who was raped while drunk was responsible. Men had higher RMA and the less sexual knowledge they had, the more they accepted the rape myths. Direction is provided regarding primary prevention of sexual assault.
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts, Boston, College of Nursing & Health Sciences, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. teri.aronowitz@umb.edu
authors.forename: Teri
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aronowitz
authors.forename: Cheryl Ann
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Davidoff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001290:Attitude; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D011902:Rape / Q000523:psychology*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult