Interpersonal Trauma and Physical Health Symptoms in College Students: Mediating Effects of Substance Use and Self-Blame

The aims of this study were to, first, report the prevalence of physical violence perpetration among a sample of college students and, second, to identify associations between physical violence perpetration, substance use, and mental health symptoms. We analyzed survey data from the Healthy Minds Study. We examined the 12-month prevalence of physical violence perpetration by gender identity from 2014–2019 ( n = 181,056). We used multivariable logistic regression analyses to estimate associations between physical violence perpetration, substance use, and mental health symptoms from the 2018–2019 survey year ( n = 43,563). Results revealed that 12-month prevalence rates of physical violence perpetration increased from 2014–2019 among male, female, and transgender/gender nonconforming college students. Results from multivariable logistic regression analyses using the 2018–2019 survey year revealed higher odds of physical violence perpetration in the previous 12 months among students who reported substance use and mental health symptoms, including vaping or e-cigarette use, illicit drug use, and nonsuicidal self-injury, among others. Our findings highlight steadily rising prevalence of physical violence perpetration from 2014–2019 among college students, indicating a growing need for more research and prevention efforts to address this problem in higher education settings. Efforts to prevent violence on college campuses should consider how to reduce substance use and improve mental health to reduce this form of violence.

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Understanding measures of racial discrimination and microaggressions among American Indian and Alaska Native college students in the Southwest United States

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-11036-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Brenna L. Greenfield ◽

Jessica H. L. Elm ◽

Kevin A. Hallgren

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Substance Use ◽

Physical Health ◽

American Indian ◽

Racial Discrimination ◽

Alaska Native ◽

Physical Assault ◽

Psychometric Performance ◽

Distress Scale ◽

Everyday Discrimination

Abstract Background Racial discrimination, including microaggressions, contributes to health inequities, yet research on discrimination and microaggressions has focused on single measures without adequate psychometric evaluation. To address this gap, we examined the psychometric performance of three discrimination/microaggression measures among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) college students in a large Southwestern city. Methods Students (N = 347; 65% female; ages 18–65) completed the revised-Everyday Discrimination Scale, Microaggressions Distress Scale, and Experiences of Discrimination measure. The psychometric performance of these measures was evaluated using item response theory and confirmatory factor analyses. Associations of these measures with age, gender, household income, substance use, and self-rated physical health were examined. Results Discrimination and microaggression items varied from infrequently to almost universally endorsed and each measure was unidimensional and moderately correlated with the other two measures. Most items contributed information about the overall severity of discrimination and collectively provided information across a continuum from everyday microaggressions to physical assault. Greater exposure to discrimination on each measure had small but significant associations with more substance use, lower income, and poorer self-rated physical health. The Experiences of Discrimination measure included more severe forms of discrimination, while the revised-Everyday Discrimination Scale and the Microaggressions Distress Scale represented a wider range of severity. Conclusions In clinical practice, these measures can index varying levels of discrimination for AI/ANs, particularly for those in higher educational settings. This study also informs the measurement of racial discrimination and microaggressions more broadly.

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Sticks, stones, and stress: PTSD symptoms and pain catastrophizing mediate the association between peer victimization and poor physical health

10.35831/sor/mr/skbt2019 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Jennifer Knack ◽

Benjamin Towns

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Physical Health ◽

Peer Victimization ◽

Pain Catastrophizing ◽

Health Problems ◽

Ptsd Symptoms ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Poor Physical Health ◽

Being Bullied

Abstract Introduction: Being bullied, also known as peer victimization, is a significant social stressor robustly associated with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms, pain catastrophizing, and poor physical health. Although much of the research on this topic has been correlational, longitudinal studies have found that being bullied predicts the development of physical health and mental health symptoms in children and college students. However, the interrelationships (mediation) between PTSD, pain catastrophizing, and physical health as they relate to peer victimization is unclear. In the current study we sought to better establish a pathway among peer victimization, PTSD symptoms, pain catastrophizing, and physical health symptoms. Method: College students (N = 275) in an engineering and technology research university in upstate New York participated. Participants completed assessments of peer victimization, PTSD symptoms, pain catastrophizing, and physical health symptoms. Results: Consistent with previous research, peer victimization was significantly correlated with frequency and severity of physical health problems, PTSD symptoms (reexperiencing, avoidance, and arousal), and pain catastrophizing (rumination, magnification, and helplessness). Significant mediational models were also established, where both PTSD symptoms and pain magnification each mediated the association between peer victimization and severity of health problems. Conclusions: The current research further elucidates the interrelationship among PTSD symptoms, pain catastrophizing, and health problems resulting from peer victimization. The current study expands the current understanding of interrelationships of these variables and provides implications for interventions and treatment. Keywords: Peer victimization, bullying, PTSD symptoms, physical health

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