Racial differences in college students’ knowledge, self-efficacy, and use of sexual violence services: a cross-sectional analysis

Background: Sexual violence is highly prevalent on college campuses. Campuses implement prevention measures to increase awareness and reduce barriers to help-seeking and disclosure of campus sexual violence victimization. Current literature examines students’ knowledge, self-efficacy, and use of sexual violence services to determine how these factors influence individual outcomes after victimization. Students are color are disproportionately affected by campus sexual violence; however, it remains unknown if and how race impacts students’ knowledge of sexual violence services, self-efficacy to utilize sexual violence services, use of sexual violence services. The purpose of this study was to determine differences in college students’ knowledge, self-efficacy, and use of sexual violence services by racial categorization. We hypothesized that students of color who visit campus health centers would have lower self-reported rates of knowledge, self-efficacy, and use of sexual violence services, compared to white counterparts. Methods: This study was a secondary data analysis of the Giving Information for Trauma Support and Safety (GIFTSS) study. GIFTSS was a randomized control trial conducted from 2015-2018 at 28 Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia campus health centers. We analyzed baseline survey data. Race was operationalized both aggregated (“white” compared to “students of color”) and disaggregated by self-reported race/ethnicity. For primary analysis, we used unadjusted regression models to compare the knowledge of sexual violence services, self-efficacy to utilize sexual violence services, use of sexual violence services by race. Results: The sample included 2259 students, predominately white (67.8%), and cisgender female (73.3%). Students of color reported lower knowledge of sexual violence services than white students. Specifically, Asian students reported lower knowledge compared to white students. Students of color reported greater self-efficacy to use services and greater service utilization than white students. Specifically, Black students reported greater self-efficacy and greater odds of use compared to white students. Public Health Significance: Racial disparities in college students’ knowledge, self-efficacy, and use of sexual violence services continue to exist, indicating persistent gaps in current campus sexual violence prevention efforts. This study supports the need for further research to understand students of colors’ unique needs and experiences related to sexual violence