Does College Matter? Exploring College-Level Factors Related to Victimization Risk for U.S. and Canadian College Students

Research shows that U.S. college students are at risk for a variety of victimization types. College students in Canada also experience similar types of victimization compared to U.S students, yet recent research shows that Canadian students are at a greater risk than U.S. college students of being victimized. Little is known, however, as to whether college-level factors influence victimization risk and how these risks may be different for U.S. and Canadian college students. Using the American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment data (ACHA-NCHA II), the current study builds upon past research by exploring the role of both individual and school characteristics and whether they are similarly related to risk of victimization in the two populations. The findings show that Canadian students are at higher risk for victimization and that some school-level factors play a role in predicting this risk for all students, with some variation in ones that matter for each country.

Polyvictimization and Academic Performance: Findings From a National-Level Study of College Students

Research on polyvictimization (i.e., experiencing multiple types of victimization) suggests that its effects are diverse and may be more severe than the effects of single-type victimization. Few studies have focused on polyvictimization among college students and how its experience may shape academic life. Thus, this study examines how polyvictimization (i.e., sexual, violent, and stalking-in the last 12 months) among college students relates to academic performance. Participants (N = 67,972) were drawn from the Spring 2019 administration of the American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment II. Findings show that polyvictims' grade point averages are lower than nonpolyvictims and polyvictims have higher odds of having their academic performance suffer connected to a variety of factors (mental health, physical health, and substance use). Students who experienced three types of victimization (compared to fewer) had the highest odds of having their academic performance harmed. These findings suggest extra attention be paid to polyvictimization as it relates to factors that shape academic performance.

Covid-19 and Its Link to Victimization Among College Students

In late 2019, the first cases of the disease (Covid-19) caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV2 were discovered. A few months later, a global pandemic was declared that resulted in many lock-down orders across the U.S. These orders and the pandemic itself have sparked research examining the link between Covid-19 and crime. Relevant to the current study, a few studies have found a link between Covid-19 and domestic violence victimization, with many noting significant increases in domestic violence during the pandemic. Some research has also shown that victims are reaching out to domestic violence hotlines at increased rates. Despite these early studies, little is known about how Covid-19 is related to victimization, especially to types other than domestic violence, and how victims may fare during the pandemic. Thus, the current study addresses these gaps by using national level college student data from Fall 2020. Findings show that about 14% of students indicated they had a confirmed test or had symptoms consistent with Covid-19 without a confirmed test. Additionally, having a Covid-19 diagnosis or symptoms were related to all four victimization types and polyvictimization, and being a victim and a polyvictim were related to increased Covid-19-related stress and financial problems. Lastly, victims had increased odds of feeling like psychological or mental health services were somewhat or much more difficult to access during the pandemic relative to non-victims. It may be beneficial for universities to prioritize victims for outreach and consider using resources to modify counseling and other mental health services to better serve their students.