Meet our 2026 Lindsey M. Bonistall Research Fellow
CARLIN HOFFACKER, M.S.ED.
Doctoral Student, Indiana University
Doctoral Student, Indiana University
Project Title: Clarifying the Role of Anxiety in College Men’s Perpetration of Sexual Aggression
Research Proposal Summary: Despite prevention efforts, men’s sexual aggression (SA) against women continues to pose a significant threat to the safety and wellbeing of US college communities. Surprisingly, research suggests that there is a link between anxiety and aggressive behavior, with a smaller portion of this research focusing on sexual aggression, specifically.
Given that there are many effective evidence-based approaches for addressing anxiety, this study aims to illuminate new angles for preventing SA by deepening our understanding of how men’s social anxiety, sexual performance anxiety, attachment anxiety, masculine discrepancy stress, and trait anxiety may link to sexual aggression uniquely, in combination with one another, and through emotionally-activated impulsivity.
By shedding light on which anxiety contexts contribute to men’s SA (and how impulsivity may play a role), this study aims to pave the way for new prevention strategies that simultaneously address college men’s mental health concerns and reduce their likelihood of sexual aggression.
Research Proposal Summary: Despite prevention efforts, men’s sexual aggression (SA) against women continues to pose a significant threat to the safety and wellbeing of US college communities. Surprisingly, research suggests that there is a link between anxiety and aggressive behavior, with a smaller portion of this research focusing on sexual aggression, specifically.
Given that there are many effective evidence-based approaches for addressing anxiety, this study aims to illuminate new angles for preventing SA by deepening our understanding of how men’s social anxiety, sexual performance anxiety, attachment anxiety, masculine discrepancy stress, and trait anxiety may link to sexual aggression uniquely, in combination with one another, and through emotionally-activated impulsivity.
By shedding light on which anxiety contexts contribute to men’s SA (and how impulsivity may play a role), this study aims to pave the way for new prevention strategies that simultaneously address college men’s mental health concerns and reduce their likelihood of sexual aggression.
