A Closer Look at Rape Myth Beliefs Among University Students: Comparisons and Correlates Based on Field and Stage of Study, Victimisation Experiences, Demographics and Psychological Traits

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dc.abstract.enDisproportionate rates of sexual violence occur among university students, with rape culture and misconceptions about consentprevalent. To comprehensively examine rape myth beliefs among different student groups, 417 UK University students enrolledon courses in four distinct disciplinary areas; social sciences (n = 131), applied sciences (n = 101), business and law (n = 96) andarts and humanities (n = 89), completed the Acceptance of Modern Myths about Sexual Aggression (AMMSA) scale. Differencesin AMMSA scores (small to very large) were observed between students across all disciplinary groupings, with applied scienceand business and law students scoring highest in rape myth beliefs. Demographic and victimisation differences were alsoobserved; male students, BAME students and students without direct exposure to sexual victimisation, expressed greater rapemyth acceptance scores. Regression revealed that gender, ethnicity, students' stage of study, deficits in affective empathy andhaving a friend or family member that had experienced sexual violence, were significant correlates of student's rape mythbeliefs. Findings have important implications for university responses to sexual violence, helping identify those students mostlikely to benefit from targeted educational interventions designed to improve understanding around consent and debunk rapestereotypes—a priority for Higher Education providers.
dc.affiliationInstytut Psychologii
dc.contributor.authorWillmott, Dominic
dc.contributor.authorJohnston, Mairi
dc.contributor.authorWidanaralalage, B. Kennath
dc.contributor.authorMojtahedi, Dara
dc.contributor.authorBoduszek, Daniel
dc.contributor.authorMcDermott, Danielle
dc.contributor.authorKirkman, Gillian
dc.date.access2026-10-22
dc.date.accessioned2026-10-22T08:08:04Z
dc.date.available2026-10-22T08:08:04Z
dc.date.created2026-09-02
dc.description.abstract<jats:title>ABSTRACT</jats:title> <jats:p> Disproportionate rates of sexual violence occur among university students, with rape culture and misconceptions about consent prevalent. To comprehensively examine rape myth beliefs among different student groups, 417 UK University students enrolled on courses in four distinct disciplinary areas; social sciences ( <jats:italic>n</jats:italic>  = 131), applied sciences ( <jats:italic>n</jats:italic>  = 101), business and law ( <jats:italic>n</jats:italic>  = 96) and arts and humanities ( <jats:italic>n</jats:italic>  = 89), completed the Acceptance of Modern Myths about Sexual Aggression (AMMSA) scale. Differences in AMMSA scores (small to very large) were observed between students across all disciplinary groupings, with applied science and business and law students scoring highest in rape myth beliefs. Demographic and victimisation differences were also observed; male students, BAME students and students without direct exposure to sexual victimisation, expressed greater rape myth acceptance scores. Regression revealed that gender, ethnicity, students' stage of study, deficits in affective empathy and having a friend or family member that had experienced sexual violence, were significant correlates of student's rape myth beliefs. Findings have important implications for university responses to sexual violence, helping identify those students most likely to benefit from targeted educational interventions designed to improve understanding around consent and debunk rape stereotypes—a priority for Higher Education providers. </jats:p>
dc.description.accesstimebefore_publication
dc.description.physical1-13
dc.description.sdgReducedInequalities
dc.description.versionfinal_author
dc.identifier.doi10.1002/bsl.70095
dc.identifier.eissn1099-0798
dc.identifier.issn0735-3936
dc.identifier.urihttps://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/2648
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bsl.70095
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationpsychologia
dc.rightsCC-BY
dc.rights.questionYes_rights
dc.share.articleOTHER
dc.subject.enAMMSA
dc.subject.enconsent
dc.subject.enE6 condition
dc.subject.eneducation
dc.subject.enhigher education
dc.subject.enrape myths
dc.subject.ensexual violence
dc.subject.enuniversity students
dc.swps.sciencecloudnosend
dc.titleA Closer Look at Rape Myth Beliefs Among University Students: Comparisons and Correlates Based on Field and Stage of Study, Victimisation Experiences, Demographics and Psychological Traits
dc.title.journalBehavioral Sciences and the Law
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeArticle