Silencing the Rainbow: Prevalence of LGBTQ+ Students Who Do Not Report Sexual Violence

Heather Tillewein (), Namrata Shokeen, Presley Powers, Amaury J. Rijo Sánchez, Sasha Sandles-Palmer and Kristen Desjarlais
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Heather Tillewein: Department of Health and Human Performance, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN 37044, USA
Namrata Shokeen: Department of Sociology, Monk Prayogshala, Mumbai 400072, India
Presley Powers: Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, USA
Amaury J. Rijo Sánchez: Department of Sociology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
Sasha Sandles-Palmer: California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University, San Francisco, CA 91803, USA
Kristen Desjarlais: Department of L’Nu, Political, and Social Studies, Cape Breton University, Sydney, NS B1M 1A2, Canada

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 3, 1-12

Abstract: Previous research on sexual violence suggests that there is a higher likelihood of students from LGBTQ+ community experiencing sexual violence and not reporting it. This study investigates various types of sexual violence experienced by the LGBTQ+ students and the prevalence of reporting it. The study further determines why different types of sexual violence are not being reported. This study uses a LGBTQ+ scholarship survey data conducted in 2019. Using Pearson’s chi square analysis, the study investigates the relationship between who experienced various kinds of sexual violence and those who do not report it. The study provides descriptive analysis of reasons for not reporting sexual violence across different types of sexual violence. The results show that there is a statistically significant relationship between those who experienced various kinds of sexual violence and those who do not report it. In addition, the study illustrates mistrust in support services and fear of embarrassment as the major reasons resulting in non-reporting behaviors. In conclusion, the study illustrates high prevalence for various types of sexual violence against LGBTQ+ students as well as high underreporting. Study results have implications for health professionals and institutions to focus efforts in making school environments safe and inclusive for LGBTQ+ students.

Keywords: sexual violence; LGBTQ+, sexual orientation; higher education; non-reporting (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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