http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22909916

Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2011 Nov 29;24(1):83-90. doi: 10.1515/ijamh.2012.012.

The nature and extent of college student hazing.

Allan EJ, Madden M.

Source

College of Education and Human Development, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA. elizabeth.allan@umit.maine.edu

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

This study explored the nature and extent of college student hazing in the USA. Hazing, a form of interpersonal violence, can jeopardize the health and safety of students.

METHODS:

Using a web-based survey, data were collected from 11,482 undergraduate students, aged 18-25 years, who attended one of 53 colleges and universities. Additionally, researchers interviewed 300 students and staff at 18 of the campuses.

RESULTS:

Results reveal hazing among USA college students is widespread and involves a range of student organizations and athletic teams. Alcohol consumption, humiliation, isolation, sleep-deprivation and sex acts are hazing practices common across student groups. Furthermore, there is a large gap between the number of students who report experience with hazing behaviors and those that label their experience as hazing.

CONCLUSIONS:

To date, hazing prevention efforts in post-secondary education have focused largely on students in fraternities/sororities and intercollegiate athletes. Findings from this study can inform development of more comprehensive and research-based hazing prevention efforts that target a wider range of student groups. Further, data can serve as a baseline from which to measure changes in college student hazing over time.