Students who receive sexuality education, including refusal skills training, before college matriculation are at lower risk of experiencing sexual assault during college.

Research from Columbia University indicates that high school sexuality education, especially refusal skills training, can reduce the risk of sexual assault during college. Students who received comprehensive sex education, rather than abstinence-only instruction, were less likely to experience penetrative sexual assault. The study highlights the importance of starting sexual assault prevention early by teaching adolescents about consent, refusal skills, and healthy relationships before college. These findings support integrating early, life-course sexual education alongside campus-based prevention efforts.