title: Heavy Episodic Drinking and Sexual Aggression Among Male College Students: The Protective Influence of Church Attendance.
abstract: Much research has examined personal characteristics that increase the risk of men engaging in sexual aggression. Heavy episodic drinking, typically operationalized for males as consuming five or more standard drinks of alcohol in a 2-hr period, is one factor that has been found in most studies to be associated with higher risk for sexual aggression. Although relatively little empirical attention has been given to personal characteristics that can protect men from perpetrating sexual aggression, research on factors that are tied to less alcohol use may be fruitful in this regard. Accordingly, the current study examined if church attendance protected against sexual aggression perpetration by reducing heavy episodic drinking among male students who completed survey questionnaires during their first, second, and third years of college. The results showed increased church attendance over the first and second years of college was associated with lower levels of subsequent, heavy episodic drinking and sexual aggression. Moreover, the results indicated lower levels of heavy episodic drinking mediated the protective effect of church attendance on sexual aggression. These findings can inform sexual aggression prevention efforts in the male, college student population.
authors.affiliation: 1 Clemson University, SC, USA.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kingree
authors.affiliation: 1 Clemson University, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Martie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: 1 Clemson University, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ruetz
keywords: alcohol and drugs; sexual assault; spirituality and violence