Health · Mental Health · 7 hrs ago
One-third of surveyed Indiana University students reported scary sex
Indiana University researchers surveyed 721 undergraduates about sexual experiences they considered scary.
Nearly one-third said they had experienced scary sex, according to the survey.
The students were about 19 years old on average and included women, men and gender-diverse respondents.
The most common experience was a partner refusing to stop when asked.
Other reported experiences included feeling unable to control what happened, pressure, unwanted roughness, intoxication, restraint and condom-related concerns.
Earlier studies at the university had also found that some students felt scared during sex, prompting this larger survey.
The findings show that frightening sex can involve more than sexual assault, though the survey does not say how common each experience was beyond ranking refusal to stop first.
The article gives no further steps planned in response to the findings.
A survey of 721 Indiana University undergraduates found that 31 percent had experienced sex they described as scary.
Three-quarters of respondents reporting a scary experience were women, 21 percent were men and 5 percent were transgender or gender non-binary.
The most commonly reported experience was a partner not stopping when asked.
Researchers grouped the experiences into seven categories, including lack of control, pressure, unwanted roughness and condom-related concerns.
The survey participants had an average age of 19.
- Who
- Researchers at Indiana University surveyed 721 undergraduates. Participants had an average age of 19.
- What
- The survey found that 31 percent reported at least one sexual experience they called scary.
- When
- The survey date is not stated. The article was published on November 2, 2026.
- Where
- Indiana University.
- Why
- The researchers investigated who experiences scary sex and why.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault reported that 20 percent of college women get raped as undergraduates.
A study by investigators at U.S. colleges and universities concluded that statistic was reasonably accurate.
Two pilot reports by Indiana University researchers found that some women and men sometimes felt scared during sex.
Indiana University researchers surveyed 721 undergraduates about scary sexual experiences.
- Survey respondents
- 721 Indiana University undergraduates
- Reported scary sex
- 31 percent reported at least one such experience
- Average age
- 19
- Women among those reporting scary sex
- 75 percent
- Men among those reporting scary sex
- 21 percent
- Categories
- Seven, including not stopping, lack of control and condom-related experiences
What people are saying
When I told him it really hurt and please stop, he didn’t.
I felt like I didn’t have a say.
When things got too rough, I was too scared to say anything.
He took the condom off without telling me.