Predictors of campus sexual violence perpetration: A systematic review of research, sampling, and study design

Understanding the research on predictors of campus sexual violence perpetration is critical for primary prevention efforts directed at preventing perpetrators from offending. This study systematically reviewed 28 research articles to understand common predictors of campus sexual violence perpetration as well as the research and study design of these articles. Personality factors, attitudes, and negative life experiences were the most investigated predictors of campus perpetration, while other factors, such as sexual behavior and past perpetration, received less empirical attention. Most of the studies in this review used cross-sectional, observational data with participants at large, public universities. The samples were largely White, undergraduate students. These findings indicate that more research is needed to understand predictors of campus sexual violence perpetration with increased attention to understudied risk factors. Future research should be conducted at more diverse institutions with more diverse samples.