DATE: October 17, 2007

CONTACT: Martie Thompson, (864) 656-6098
mpthomp@clemson.edu

WRITER: Michael Greenfield, (864) 656-2061
mgreenf@clemson.edu

Clemson professor receives grants to research college sexual violence

CLEMSON — Clemson University public health sciences professor Martie Thompson was awarded two grants from the National Institutes of Health to study sexual violence victimization of first-year college students.

The first grant of $225,000 allows Thompson and her research team to determine risk factors and consequences of sexual victimization among college women. The second grant for $150,000 is designed to identify factors that reduce the risk for perpetration of sexual violence among male college students.

The risk factors the researchers will be assessing are substance-related vulnerability, such as alcohol use and attendance at events where alcohol is present. Thompson also will monitor risk factors such as attitudes, perceived norms and perceived control over one’s behavior.

To help determine risk factors, Thompson will conduct surveys of students at Redfern Health Center.

“The findings from the survey can be readily translated into intervention strategies,” said Thompson. The research data will also be used to design, implement and evaluate preventive measures.

“Both grants will provide information on modifiable risk and protective factors for sexual violence so that preventive interventions can be designed accordingly,” she said.

The research team includes Kip Kingree and Hugh Spitler, public health sciences faculty members, as well as Redfern Director George Clay and staff member Jennifer Goree.

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