The survey of 409 women – most of them musicians, teachers or students – found 81% had suffered some form of abuse.
Researchers said incidents had included sexual comments, stalking and assaults, with the majority of the perpetrators being fellow musicians.
Lewis-born musician Josie Duncan said she loved being part of the traditional music scene, but added that she had turned down opportunities in the past because the person she would have worked with was “unsafe”.
Researchers based at Glasgow’s Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research carried out the study.
It said 75% of those surveyed had experienced sexual questions or remarks, and 51% had been the target of unsolicited sexual advances.
The research said 17% reported having been sexually assaulted or raped.
Glasgow University said the folk scene was male-dominated and some of the incidents had allegedly involved prominent musicians.
‘Findings not a surprise’
Josie Duncan has been a musician since a young age and has been working in Glasgow for 10 years.
“I love being part of the traditional music scene. You can walk into any session and see your pals,” she told BBC Naidheachdan.
However, she said the report’s findings had not come as a surprise to her.
Duncan said: “I’ve had times where I’ve had to turn down work, sometimes really pivotal opportunities.
“I’ve had to turn them down because I was choosing not to work with someone I knew to be unsafe.”
Duncan said she was lucky to always be safe among those she worked with regularly, adding: “But that should be normal not the exception.”
She said she was hopeful for the traditional music scene and welcomed the report.
‘Harrassment is a workplace issue’
Dr Kelly Johnson, who led the project team, said: “The Scottish folk scene is not alone in facing the challenges of sexual violence and harassment – it is an issue across the music industry and society more broadly.
“However, the findings speak to an urgent need to recognise the experiences of victim-survivors and address sexual violence and harassment as a workplace issue that affects the Scottish folk scene.”
She said in some cases the attacks were not isolated and 78% of the women reported multiple experiences of harassment and abuse.
Researchers said most of the experiences of sexual violence and harassment reported in the survey took place in social settings related to the folk scene, such as music sessions or when socialising after a performance.