Files and links (1)
Published VersionCC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Factors influencing experiences of non-consensual sex: results from a mixed data cross-sectional online survey of Australian university students
Sexual Health, Vol.22(1), pp.1-10
2025
Appears in UniSC Supported Open Access Outputs
Abstract
Background
The high prevalence of non-consensual sex, including physical force, verbal threats, intimidation, and/or verbal coercion and rape among university students, has prompted urgent calls for action from governments, statutory, and university bodies. This research aims to identify key factors students see as contributing to non-consensual sex with a view to developing effective strategies to address these issues.
Methods
An online cross-sectional survey was administered to 4291 university students attending universities in south-east Queensland, Australia. Participants were recruited via email, print media, and face-to-face invitations. The survey contained closed and open-ended questions on a range of sexual health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours, including non-consensual sexual experiences. A subset of students (n = 199) who responded ‘yes’ to engaging in sexual acts against their consent were the primary participants for this paper. Descriptive statistical analysis and thematic analysis, employing the theory of planned behaviour, were conducted using the quantitative and qualitative data regarding non-consensual sex, respectively.
Results
Immediate and longer-term fear and partner eagerness were the most commonly identified influences on non-consensual sex. An inability to give consent due to lack of consciousness or intoxication were also frequently cited factors contributing to non-consensual sex.
Conclusions
Interventions acknowledging and addressing sociocultural factors are needed. Sexuality and relationship education encompassing effective communication, relationship boundaries, and safe use of alcohol and drugs could substantially reduce the incidence of non-consensual sex. Importantly, such education should be non-judgmental and place greater responsibility on perpetrators than victim-survivors.
Details
- Title
- Factors influencing experiences of non-consensual sex: results from a mixed data cross-sectional online survey of Australian university students
- Authors
- Kathryn Wenham (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Public HealthJo Durham - Queensland University of TechnologyAmy B Mullens - University of Southern QueenslandAnnette Brömdal - University of Southern QueenslandJoseph Debattista - Metro North Health (Australia, Herston)Gianna Parma - True Relationships and Reproductive Health (Australia)Zhihong Gu - Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (Brisbane, Australia)Armin Ariana - Griffith UniversityCharles F Gilks - The University of QueenslandSara F E Bell - The University of QueenslandJudith A Dean - The University of Queensland
- Publication details
- Sexual Health, Vol.22(1), pp.1-10
- Publisher
- CSIRO Publishing
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1071/SH24165
- ISSN
- 1449-8987; 1448-5028
- Copyright note
- © 2025 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)
- Data Availability
- The data that support this study cannot be publicly shared due to ethical reasons and may be shared on reasonable request to the corresponding author, if appropriate.
- Grant note
- Funds for this project came from a combination of sources including: QUT School of Public Health and Social Work KickStart Grant; Queensland BBV/STI Professoriate Chair Discretionary Seed Research Grant; and the Griffith University Dean of Medicine Griffith Seed Project Funds. Participating universities, Metro North Hospital and Health Services, and the community organisations contributed in-kind funding to cover salaries and travel time of the Principal Investigator and Co-Investigators and steering committee members.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Public Health
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991098746302621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
46 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Infectious Diseases
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites