Sexual Assault and Heavy Episodic Drinking Among Women of Asian/Pacific Islander Ancestry and Women of European Ancestry

Sexual assault prevalence rates differ by ethnicity, and there is little research on sexual assault among women of Asian/Pacific Islander ancestry, compared to women of European ancestry. In the current online study, we examined heavy episodic drinking, rates of assault, and assault severity among native and nonnative English-speaking college students of Asian/Pacific Islander ancestry. Native English-speaking students of Asian/Pacific Islander ancestry reported similar sexual assault severity before and since college, compared to their nonnative English-speaking counterparts. Students of European ancestry reported more severe before-college sexual assault histories than native English-speaking students of Asian/Pacific Islander ancestry. No group differences were found in college sexual assault severity. Students of European ancestry reported more frequent heavy episodic drinking than native English-speaking students of Asian/Pacific Islander ancestry, which in turn was associated with more severe assaults since college. For all students, more frequent heavy episodic drinking was associated with more severe assaults in college. Because all students are at risk of being assaulted, culturally sensitive programming should be developed for students of Asian/Pacific Islander ancestry.

Duke Scholars

Author Sarah M Wilson Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine & Neur ...