College-going boys who frequent parties more sexually aggressive, claims study

Washington D.C. [USA], Apr 25 (ANI): College-going boys who frequent parties are likely to be more sexually aggressive, a new study has claimed. 
"We found that it wasn't alcohol use, per se, that leads to sexual aggression, but the combination of alcohol and the setting that the drinking takes place in had a major impact on the number of reported aggressive tactics used," said Michael Cleveland, Associate Professor at Washington State University, where the research was conducted.
Findings of the research were published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
As part of the study, over 1000 college-going males were surveyed repeatedly for five semesters from the time they entered as freshmen. The participants were asked if they use any sexually aggressive tactics in a survey that was to be completed either online or through emails.
"We asked them how often they drank and if and how often they went to bars or parties. Then we asked if they used any specific tactics to convince, or even pressure women to have sex with them," said Cleveland.
The tactics used by these males included pretending to break up with women so as to pressure them into drinking, or even inflicting physical harm, researchers observed. 
Researchers found that men who were more inclined to partying had higher levels of impersonal sexual orientation - characterised by a preference for sex without commitment and a greater number of sexual partners.
"Men with that orientation have a proclivity towards more casual sex. And it's been associated with a higher level of sexual aggression. So this study shows that men with those personality traits are going to parties - perhaps in order to find sex partners --and acting more sexually aggressive,” Cleveland said.
"The results are very cumulative. If a student reported drinking as a freshman, then he would be more likely to report going to parties or bars the next year as a sophomore,” detailed Cleveland. "And then the men who were most likely to drink at these types of settings were the ones that most likely were sexually aggressive during their junior year."
Cleveland also emphasised on the need for intervention into such incidents at parties, if any. "There are hot spots, like bars and parties, where aggressive behaviour happens more often. Having bystander intervention, where someone intervenes on behalf of the victim, is really important in these situations," she opined. (ANI)