Citation

Miller-Graff LE, Howell KH, Martinez-Torteya C, Hunter EC. J. Am. Coll. Health 2015; 63(8): 539-549.

Affiliation

a Department of Psychology , Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame , Notre Dame , Indiana.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/07448481.2015.1057145

PMID

26151087

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study examined typologies of childhood violence exposure (CVE) and the associations of profiles with current demographic characteristics and mental health in emerging adulthood. PARTICIPANTS: The study evaluated a sample of college students from two U.S. geographic regions (Midwest n=195; Southeast n=200).

METHODS: An online questionnaire (collected 2013-2014) assessed CVE and current mental health. Latent class analysis was used to identify typologies of CVE. Follow-up analyses were conducted to distinguish differences between typologies in demographic characteristics and mental health.

RESULTS: Four distinct profiles emerged: High-Exposed, Domestic-Exposed, Community-Exposed, and Low-Exposed. High- and Domestic-Exposed groups were more likely to be first-generation college students and experience symptoms of psychopathology.

CONCLUSIONS: This study offers a unique presentation of CVE profiles and a nuanced interpretation of their differential relationship to current demographic characteristics and mental health. It may befit university mental health initiatives to engage first-generation students and utilize comprehensive assessments of previous victimization.

Language: en