Sexual harassment (SH) is a widespread and recurring problem in educational settings. SH is not easy to define, partly because it does not involve a homogenous set of behaviours. There are gender variations in the experience and perception of SH. Risk factors for SH include female gender and gender inequality, same-sex attraction, poverty, poorly trained, underpaid, and understaffed educators. The study aimed to determine the prevalence rates and correlates of heterosexual and same-sex SH and to explore the social and mental health sequelae of SH among students and staff of first-generation universities in South-west Nigeria.

A cross-sectional survey was done in three first-generation universities in southwest Nigeria. A sample size of 550 participants per institution was estimated with a margin of error of 2.5%, a 95% confidence level. This gave a total sample size of 1650 respondents participants for the study. In each university, Students and staff were categorized by faculties into 3 clusters: science, social science, and arts. A proportionate sampling technique was used. Participants were assessed for SH, age, sexual orientation, gender, motivation for dressing, depressive symptoms, and suicidality. Associations were tested using Pearson correlations.

SH was higher with age, among females, among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB), participants with sexual motivation for dressing, high sexual desire, high suicidality, and low perception of campus safety. In terms of gender differences, correlation with age was slightly higher in females while correlations with lesbian/gay status was higher in males. In terms of sexual orientation, correlation with age was largest in LGB, association with dressing motivation, sexual desire, and depressive symptoms scores was greatest in heterosexual participants, association with suicidality scores was greatest with lesbian/gay status; and correlation with perception of campus as safe lowest among bisexual participants. Generally, the associations were weakest among staff compared to students.

There are certain demographics (heterosexual and bisexual females and gay men) that appear to be more vulnerable to SH in tertiary institutions. The correlates of SH also vary in the different sample groups. These should be considered when programming for prevention and response to SH in Nigerian tertiary institutions.