title: Forced Sex and Sexual Consent Among College Women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Female college students, aged 18-25 years, are at high risk for sexual violence compared with women of other age groups. Lack of clear consent is a preceding and defining component of forced sex and sexual violence. This study explored the association between sexual consent awareness, attitudes, and beliefs and a history of forced sex among a sample of college women. In addition, the level of alcohol use among this group was examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional electronic survey was sent to approximately 5900 female students enrolled at a large public university in the northeastern United States. Sexual consent was measured with the Sexual Consent Scale-Revised, and alcohol use was measured with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption Items. Logistic regression models were used to examine the differences in sexual consent scores based on a history of forced sex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The final sample included 925 students. Twenty-two percent of participants reported a history of forced sex; more than half (59%) reported alcohol use before sexual activity. Women with greater awareness of sexual consent were significantly more likely to have a history of forced sex. Women who utilize more nonverbal, indirect approaches to communicating sexual consent were significantly less likely to have a history of forced sex compared with women with no history of forced sex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings highlight high rates of forced sex and alcohol use in a sample of college women and explicate sexual consent awareness and communication behaviors associated with a history of forced sex.
authors.affiliation: Author Affiliations: 1College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Massachusetts Lowell; 2William F. Connell School of Nursing, Boston College; and 3SRI International, Center for Education and Human Services, Education Division, Menlo Park, California.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Collins Fantasia
authors.forename: Holly B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Fontenot
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sutherland
authors.forename: Terrence J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Lee-St John
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D011902:Rape / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult