ALCOHOL AND DATING RISK-FACTORS FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT AMONG COLLEGE-WOMEN

American societal norms frequently link alcohol, dating, and sexuality . This cross-sectional study examined the role of alcohol and dating r isk factors for sexual assault among a representative sample of female students at a large urban university. Over half of the 1,160 women ha d experienced some form of sexual assault. Ninety-five percent of thes e assaults were committed by someone the woman knew and almost half of these assaults involved alcohol consumption by either the man, the wo man, or both. Discriminant function analyses indicated that dating, se xual, and misperception experiences and alcohol consumption during the se experiences predicted assault group status. Furthermore, alcohol co nsumption during consensual sex and sexual misperceptions were positiv ely related to alcohol consumption during the sexual assault. The pred ictors of assault group status were similar for African American and C aucasian women. Theoretical implications are discussed and suggestions are made for combining alcohol and sexual assault prevention programm ing.