This study examined how specific dimensions of toxic masculinity relate to sexually violent attitudes and behaviors among male college athletes. Through surveying Division 2 male athletes (N = 194, 91% response rate) at a northwestern Pennsylvania state university, we examined how three dimensions of toxic masculinity—Power Over Women, Heterosexual Self-Presentation, and Winning—relate to rape
... [Show full abstract] myth acceptance and sexual deception. Structural equation modeling revealed Power Over Women as significantly associated with all dimensions of rape myth acceptance (She Lied, He Didn't Mean To, and She Asked For It). Correlational analyses showed Power Over Women was also linked to both dimensions of sexual deception. Heterosexual Self-Presentation was only associated with the She Lied dimension of rape myth acceptance and Blatant Lying, while Winning was exclusively associated with Blatant Lying behaviors. These findings demonstrate that Power Over Women is the critical dimension of toxic masculinity driving sexually violent attitudes and behaviors in athletic contexts. Results suggest that sexual violence prevention programs in collegiate athletics must specifically target beliefs about men's power over women rather than focusing solely on consent education or bystander intervention.