Sugaring is marketed as a mutually beneficial financial relationship between a younger, more financially insecure individual and an older, wealthier individual for dating and companionship (Upadhyay, 2021). Sugaring is prevalent in university communities; however, there is limited research on public perception of this common phenomenon and its associated health risks. The two guiding research questions of this study were: (1) What is the level of acceptance of sugar relationships by students and faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)? and (2) What is the level of awareness among students and faculty of sugar relationships in the VCU community? A survey that measured acceptance and awareness of sugaring was distributed to students and faculty on both the undergraduate and graduate campuses of VCU. Survey responses were analyzed using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Fisher’s exact test to compare differences between the two groups. Faculty had a statistically significant lower acceptance of sugar relationships compared to students (6.0 median score compared to median 17.0 score respectively, p <0.001). Students demonstrated a significantly higher awareness of the prevalence of sugaring compared to faculty (p< 0.003). There was similar awareness of the unintended health risks of sugaring between students and faculty. Further research is warranted to elucidate the factors associated with levels of acceptance and awareness of sugaring. Educational efforts are needed to increase awareness of sugaring prevalence, especially on college campuses.
Trigger Warning: This presentation contains information (written, spoken, or visual) that may be triggering or (re)traumatizing to attendees.
Sarah Beaverson is a third-year medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine. She is one of the Research Co-Chairs of the VCU Students Fighting Human Trafficking club. She is interested in family medicine and women's reproductive health and is passionate about racial health equity and community health.
Lauren Hanley is a third-year medical student at VCU School of Medicine. She is on the Research Committee for the VCU Students Fighting Human Trafficking club. She plans to become a pediatrician and is dedicated to practicing a holistic approach to patient care.
Kathleen Pugh is a third-year medical student at the VCU School of Medicine. She has been working through the VCU Students Fighting Human Trafficking club to create a trauma-informed care curriculum for first-year students. Kathleen plans to specialize in Ob/Gyn to pursue her passion for destigmatizing women's health issues.
Vashali Jain is a third-year medical student at VCU School of Medicine. She is on the research committee for the VCU Students Fighting Human Trafficking club. She plans on going into pediatrics and is passionate about advocating for patients, especially those that can’t.
Dr. Fidelma Rigby is a professor at VCU School of Medicine in the Maternal-Fetal Division. She also serves as the faculty sponsor of the Students Fighting Human Trafficking club, faculty leader of the Human Trafficking Clinical Elective, and co-leader of the annual VCUHS Medical Symposium on Human Trafficking.