This presentation analyses gender-based harassment in terms of bullying and sexual harassment among university students within the academy sector in Sweden. Bullying and harassment are severe risk factors in the psychosocial work environment, affecting both performance and health. This study is part of a collaboration program between four universities in Sweden with the aim to create research-based knowledge for the prevention of gender-based harassment (GBH) in Swedish academia.
This study was conducted during Covid-19. Preliminary results show that GBH is more prevalent among university students than among staff. In total, 4.8 percent of university students in Sweden state that they have been subjected to sexual harassment (SH) at the university during the last 12 months. Among women, a larger proportion state that they have been exposed (5.7 %), compared to men (3.2 %). A pilot study prior to the larger prevalence study was conducted in the fall of 2020, an early stage of Covid-19. In the pilot study, 7 percent of university students (women 9.1%; men 3.1%) stated that they had been subjected to SH during the last 12 months. Consequently, results show a decrease in SH, especially among women. Furthermore, in the large-scale prevalence study one question asked respondents if Covid-19 had increased or decreased their vulnerability. Results show that about 11 percent of the women reported that exposure had decreased during Covid-19.
Regarding methodological considerations, a previous review study shows that students exposed to SH seldom file official reports but they frequently face a variety of mental and physical health consequences. Also, how questions about sexual harassment are stated most likely affects response rates among university students. To work for a sustainable and inclusive working life free from gender-based harassment, we need to continue to monitor the development over time in the academia in Sweden.