Correlations of Perceived Susceptibility and Severity of Sexual Harassment Prevention among University Students in Semarang City

Abstract

Sexual harassment within Indonesian universities continues to rise, leading to the issuance of Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Regulation No. 30/2021 as a preventive response. Data from the national SIMFONI PPA system reported 1,216 cases of sexual harassment in schools and higher education institutions as of July 2025, while Semarang City’s DP3A also documented an increase in violence among individuals aged 18–25 from 2022 to 2024. This study aims to analyze the correlation between perceived susceptibility and perceived severity with sexual harassment prevention behaviors among university students in Semarang City. A cross-sectional quantitative design was employed with 419 respondents selected through purposive sampling. Data analysis examined the relationships between health belief model constructs and preventive measures. The findings showed that perceived susceptibility was not significantly associated with prevention behavior (p = 0.331), whereas perceived severity demonstrated a significant relationship (p = 0.000). These results indicate that students’ awareness of the serious consequences of sexual harassment plays a more influential role in motivating preventive actions. The study concludes that universities should enhance prevention efforts through quarterly counseling activities, campaigns, education, and seminars highlighting the impacts of sexual harassment, supported by regular evaluations and strengthened victim-friendly reporting mechanisms.