Date rape risk factors: A review and methodological critique of the literature

It has been well established that date rape is a frequent occurrence in college students. A large body of literature has examined factors related to date rape in an attempt to determine its antecedents. This article reviews the current literature. Studies examining factors related to sexual victimization, characteristics suggested to be common to date rapists, situational characteristics associated with date rape, and variables associated with misperceived sexual intent are reviewed. Firm conclusions about these factors, however, are hindered by methodological problems, including limited use of experimental designs, retrospective self-report data, inadequate control groups, unstandardized measurements and definitions, and analog laboratory designs. Suggestions and directions for future research are provided.