'We need a culture change': military sexual trauma through the lens of rape culture.

Military sexual trauma remains a critical concern within the US military. One possible explanation for the persistence of this trauma is the presence of rape culture. This study examined perceptions of military sexual trauma within the framework of rape culture (i.e. traditional gender roles, sexism, adversarial sexual beliefs, hostility toward women, and acceptance of violence), in addition to associated factors, to address the US Department of Defense's call to focus on the role of culture on military sexual trauma. Focusing on culture is important as subtle norms in culture shape our behaviour and impact the excusal/perpetration of military sexual trauma. Identifying these norms may provide insight into factors to target in prevention efforts to reduce/eliminate military sexual trauma. Forty-two US service members responded to a series of open-ended questions. Standard content analysis procedures were utilised to determine themes. Results paint a complex picture of military sexual trauma, with participants demonstrating concern regarding military sexual trauma, but minimal acknowledgement of behaviour change to reduce military sexual trauma. These results are consistent with the observed increase in prevalence of military sexual trauma and decrease in reporting of it since 2018. Adding to the existing literature, participants noted the continued existence of rape culture within the military and the need for cultural change to address military sexual trauma.

The grey zone of collegiate sexual regret: questionable consent and sexual victimisation.

Research identifies sexual regret as the most common source of regret in the USA; however, few studies have explored this phenomenon. This study utilised a mixed-methods approach to explore sexual regret in a sample of 189 US college students. Quantitative analyses assessing who is most likely to experience sexual regret revealed no significant differences in experiences of sexual regret based on most demographics; however, individuals involved in fraternity and sorority life and/or college athletics were significantly more likely to report experiences of sexual regret. Additionally, students who reported experiences of sexual victimisation were more likely to report experiences of sexual regret. Qualitative analyses attempting to determine students' reasoning for experiencing sexual regret revealed five distinct content areas: 1) altered judgement, 2) motivations, 3) partner characteristics, 4) social judgement, and 5) unsatisfying or unpleasant sexual experiences. Results from both quantitative and qualitative analyses demonstrate significant overlap between experiences of sexual regret and sexual victimisation, highlighting the importance of future research and programming regarding sexual regret to increase understanding of the complex relationships between sexual consent and sexual behaviour.

"There Are Good and Bad Elements to It for Sure": Students' and Faculty/Staff's Perceptions of the Title IX Mandated Reporting Policy.

Faculty, staff, and students employed by or who serve as representative of universities in the United States are required by the Title IX federal law to report all instances of sexual harassment, discrimination, and sexual assault on college campuses. Despite the well-intended purpose of the Title IX regulations, less is known about campus communities' experiences and perceptions of this "mandated reporting," and its influence on disclosure. This exploratory mixed-methods study examines student (n = 88) and faculty and staff (n = 77) thoughts, concerns, and experiences regarding this policy at a mid-sized Northeastern University. Participants were recruited utilizing a campus lab system, with supplemental recruitment through student-life offices on campus. Data were collected via an anonymous survey hosted on the Qualtrics platform. Descriptive statistics were conducted for quantitative responses, whereas thematic analysis was utilized to analyze open text responses. Descriptive statistics demonstrate that the majority of participants (students and faculty/staff) were aware of their "mandated reporter" status. Additionally, students and faculty/staff varied regarding their support of the policy and the majority of faculty/staff had not had students disclose sexual violence to them and thus, had not reported any incidences of sexual violence to the university. Results of the thematic analysis further highlight the complexity of students and faculty/staff views' regarding the "mandated reporter" policy illustrating positive and negative perceived impacts of this policy, as well as several suggestions for improvement. Implications for research and practice are framed within the literature on Title IX, sexual harassment, and violence in the context of universities.