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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of forced sex among high
school students and to assess student attitudes about it. The questionnaires were
given in conjunction with a presentation on date rape to 9th through 12th grade students
in health and science classes in three large metropolitan Louisiana public high schools.
The first questionnaire, given before the presentation, elicited demographic information
and attitudes about forced sex in 11 scenarios; the second, given after the program,
asked if the student had ever been in a situation involving forced sex and, if so,
whether he or she had told anyone. The two questionnaires were completed by all 237
students. Although one out of five students (20%) reported they had experienced forced
sex, only half had told about the experience. A majority of boys (60%) found it acceptable
in one or more situations for a boy to force sex on a girl. Male, black, and older
students were significantly more likely (p < 0.05) to indicate that it was acceptable for a boy to force sex on a girl in certain
circumstances. These findings should alert physicians to the risk of acquaintance
rape among their high school student patients. Student attitudes, particularly those
of males, may provide an important focus of preventive sex education in the physician's
office, the classroom, and the community.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
November 8,
1992
Identification
Copyright
© 1993 Published by Elsevier Inc.
