Psychosomatic Effects of Sexual Harassment and Violence on Undergraduate University Female Students; A Cross Sectional Prevalence Study

Abstract

Background: Sexual harassment is the plague of that century due to its tremendous prevalence in various
societies ,it is unwanted and unaccepted sexual conduct with a female either verbal, non verbal or physical
,and it affects the physical and psychological wellbeing of the victim..
Patients and Methods : Cross- sectional study was done during the period of october 2019 till January
2020. five hundred and four participant aged between 19 and 25 years old randomly selected , distributed
on nine faculties , a questionnaire constructed of three parts given to each participant to collect data about
type of abuse and psychosomatic effect through the use of standardized questionnaire The collected data
were organized, tabulated, and statistically analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS Inc,
version 18).
Results: The study showed significant relationship between physical harassment and psychosomatic effects
also method of harassment and frequency of harassment is a risk factor for occurrence of psychosomatic
effects, and family response regarding perpetrator affect profoundly psychosomatic effects. the main harasser
were university students.
Conclusion: The prevalence of sexual harassment now days resemble a cancer due to its wide spread and
diffusion within the societies and its profound effect on the well being of the victim causing profound
psychosomatic effects . these effects are affected by the method of harassment and the frequency of exposure.
Families should have strong reflex against the perpetrator as this help the victim recovery and affects its
profound effects on her well being.