The impact of Title IX iterations on campus sexual misconduct reports per synthetic control in the United States

Hannah Rochford; Corinne Peek-Asa; Whitney Zahnd; Keith Mueller; Brian Kaskie

doi:10.1057/s41271-025-00611-8

Back

The impact of Title IX iterations on campus sexual misconduct reports per synthetic control in the United States

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

The impact of Title IX iterations on campus sexual misconduct reports per synthetic control in the United States

Hannah Rochford, Corinne Peek-Asa, Whitney Zahnd, Keith Mueller and Brian Kaskie

Journal of public health policy, Vol.47(1), pp.40-59

03/2026

DOI: 10.1057/s41271-025-00611-8

PMCID: PMC13008768

PMID: 41326631

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.1057/s41271-025-00611-8View

Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Title IX regulation changes' impact on sexual misconduct (SM) reporting to the institutions of higher education (IHE) in the United States (US) remain poorly understood. To examine trends in the rates of SM reports submitted to each American institution's Title IX Office, we applied a synthetic control. US IHE members of the American Association of Universities comprised the 'treated' group, and Canadian IHE members of the Major Regional Associations were used to create a counterfactual proxy. Marginally significant increases (P = 0.08) in reports followed the 2017 Title IX guidance change (+ 1.18, + 4.51 and + 2.24 reports per 1000 enrolled students in 2017-2018, 2018-2019 and 2019-2020, respectively), and a marginally significant decrease (- 5.23 reports per 1000 enrolled students in 2020-2021) in SM reports to Title IX offices followed the 2020 Title IX iterations. Reporting and response structures, like those specified in Title IX iterations, may influence rates of SM reporting.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual misconduct

Campus violence

Sexual violence

Title IX

Sexual assault

Details

Title: Subtitle: The impact of Title IX iterations on campus sexual misconduct reports per synthetic control in the United States
Creators: Hannah Rochford - Texas A&M Health Science Center
Corinne Peek-Asa - University of California San Diego
Whitney Zahnd - University of Iowa
Keith Mueller - University of Iowa
Brian Kaskie - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of public health policy, Vol.47(1), pp.40-59
DOI: 10.1057/s41271-025-00611-8
PMID: 41326631
PMCID: PMC13008768
NLM abbreviation: J Public Health Policy
ISSN: 0197-5897
eISSN: 1745-655X
Publisher: Springer Nature
Grant note: Jane A. Weiss Memorial Dissertation Scholarship selection committee
The authors acknowledge with gratitude the 2022 Jane A. Weiss Memorial Dissertation Scholarship selection committee, and the assistance of campus sexual misconduct professionals whose perspectives made this work possible.
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 12/01/2025
Date published: 03/2026
Academic Unit: Occupational and Environmental Health; Health Management and Policy
Record Identifier: 9985090730202771

Metrics

12 Record Views