PULLMAN, Wash. – A recent analysis from Washington State University highlights the increased risk of sexual violence faced by young women attending college, particularly those living on campus. The study, based on national crime data, found that between 2015 and 2022, college-enrolled women aged 18–24 experienced a 74% higher risk of sexual violence compared to their non-enrolled peers.
The report, co-authored by Amelie Pedneault, an associate professor in WSU’s Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, revealed a significant shift from previous years. “To an extent, I was surprised,” Pedneault said. “These comparisons had always shown that women who were not attending college were at higher risk.”
The study, published in the Journal of American College Health, analyzed data from 61,869 women surveyed from 2007–22. Kathryn DuBois, an associate professor at WSU Vancouver, led the research. The findings showed that women living on campus during this period faced triple the risk of sexual violence compared to commuter students.
DuBois emphasized the importance of making campuses safer, noting the value of the university experience. “Any sexual violence is too much,” DuBois said. “The university experience is so valuable.”
The National Crime Victimization Survey, which informed the study, captures crime impacts on society, including unreported incidents. Conducted by the Census Bureau, it interviews a representative sample of U.S. households every six months.
DuBois highlighted the survey’s strength in providing nationally representative data. “It allows us to compare risks for college women with non-college women,” DuBois said.
The study noted three major social developments during the period: the campus anti-rape movement, the #MeToo movement, and the rise of misogynistic online communities. While these factors might influence awareness, the researchers found that the proportion of rape and violent assault incidents remained consistent, suggesting other underlying causes.
The research also pointed to college life components, such as living arrangements and drinking conventions, as contributing factors to a “zone of vulnerability” for young women, especially first-year students.
Pedneault stressed the importance of addressing the motivations of offenders. She suggested that teaching boys about healthy relationships from middle school could be effective in preventing future offenses.
