The Traumatic Effects of Sexual Assault: A literature review of the effects of sexual assault on college students

Sexual assault ranges from any unwanted sexual experiences, physical or not, to rape. This literature review looks particularly at sexual assaults versus college-aged individuals and the traumatic effects that occur following the incident. Roughly 1 in 5 females and 1 in 71 males will experience sexual assault while in college (McCauley, 2015) and of these assaults roughly 20% will actually be reported to police (Sinozich, 2014). Often times individuals who are assaulted sexually face symptoms of depression, decreased success in academic settings, poor relationships, and an increased likelihood in engaging in risky behaviors. Sexual assault prevention and support is a problem that should be addressed seriously and immediately in order to protect all students and increase the possibility for success and positive experiences.