Interpersonal Violence Victimization Among College-Attending and Non-College-Attending Emerging Adults

• Published in: Emerging adulthood (Thousand Oaks, CA) Vol. 13; no. 1; pp. 231 - 238
• Main Authors: Daly, Kelly A., Heyman, Richard E., Smith Slep, Amy M., Lorber, Michael F., Cantor, David, Fisher, Bonnie S., Lapshina, Natalia, Chibnall, Susan H., Townsend, Reanne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.02.2025; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Clinical significance; College students; Consensual sex; Domestic violence; Enrollments; Intimate partner violence; Risk factors; Secondary schools; Sexual behavior; Stalking; Victimization; college; interpersonal violence; victimization; dating violence; nonconsensual sexual contact
• ISSN: 2167-6968; 2167-6984
• DOI: 10.1177/21676968241293825

It is well-established that rates of interpersonal violence (IV; physical and emotional intimate partner violence [IPV], non-consensual sexual contact [NCSC], and stalking) peak at 18–24 years of age. Most emerging-adult IV research has been conducted with college samples, making increased risk for IV in college a widely held, but perhaps unjustified, assumption. This nationally representative study (N = 1025) assessed high school seniors on IV victimization and re-assessed them the spring following college enrollment (n = 779) or non-enrollment (n = 246). Replicating prior research, we found few differences in prevalences of IV among college-attending and non-attending emerging adults. After controlling for demographics and baseline victimization, only clinically significant (impactful) physical IPV victimization differed between groups, with college conveying a protective effect (OR = 38, 95% CI: .15 – .99). Explication of proximal and distal factors that inform risk for IV among emerging adults on different trajectories is essential for improved prevention and response.