University Support and Prevention Needs for Sexual Harassment: What Do European Students and Doctoral Students Ask For?Show others and affiliations
2025 (English)In: Sexuality & Culture, ISSN 1095-5143, E-ISSN 1936-4822, Vol. 29, no 2, p. 710-733Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
This study explores experiences of and refections on sexual harassment in academiaamong students and doctoral students from Belgium, Croatia, Germany, and Sweden. Prevalence studies show that sexual harassment is a common occurrence andhas negative consequences not only on mental health in general but also on academic performance. However, little is known about what kinds of support and prevention are needed. Therefore, the aim of this study has been to develop in-depthknowledge about students’ and doctoral students’ refections on how victims of sexual harassment in academia should be supported, and how sexual harassment in academia could be prevented. To achieve this aim, 54 individual interviews, and 6 focusgroup interviews with 18 participants, were conducted between 2020 and 2022 witha total of 72 participants at the bachelors, masters, doctoral level or state exam level.Based on a thematic analysis three themes emerged: (a) Information on sexual harassment, (b) Prerequisites for reporting and intervening, and (c) Support as a preventive activity. The results show an urgent need for information, since this is perceivedas lacking by students and doctoral students, and suggested strategies for information provision are presented. Further, there are challenges related to reporting, andignorance about how to intervene when sexual harassment is witnessed. Professionalsupport is described as important, along with support from peers, mentors, family,and friends. These fndings are relevant for researchers and for clinicians at university student health centres, to develop relevant preventive and supportive interventions in the context of academia.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Springer Nature, 2025. Vol. 29, no 2, p. 710-733
Keywords [en]
Sexual harassment, Support, Students, Doctoral students, Thematic analysis, Policies
National Category
Health Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:mau:diva-72575DOI: 10.1007/s12119-024-10294-0ISI: 001375726500001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105001083945OAI: oai:DiVA.org:mau-72575DiVA, id: diva2:1918865
Funder
Malmö University2024-12-062024-12-062025-04-15Bibliographically approved