14/07/2023
Dating violence, also known as intimate partner violence (IPV), is a common and pervasive problem on college campuses. Approximately 1 in 3 women, 1 in 10 men, and 1 in 2 transgender individuals are victims of dating violence. According to research in Tramatology, women between the ages of 16 and 24 experience the highest rate of Dating Violence.
College students are vulnerable to dating violence because of the influence of their social and living environments.
Dating violence refers to any physical, psychological, emotional, or sexual abuse that occurs within a nonmarried dating relationship, including stalking (Centers for Disease Control , 2021). The high rates of victimization are concerning given the deleterious outcomes that can result from dating violence experiences, which include physical injury (Amar & Gennaro, 2005), increased risk for depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Eshelman & Levendosky, 2012), and poor academic performance (Brewer & Thomas, 2019).
Substance use among college students is one of the most common correlates of college dating violence experiences (e.g., Baker & Stith, 2008; Shorey et al., 2011); research by Shorey et al. (2015) found that alcohol use was significantly related to all forms of aggression measured (physical, psychological, and sexual). As well, Shorey et al. (2011) found that while research surrounding illegal drug use and dating violence victimization is limited, the existing literature suggests that illegal drug use is associated with increased risk of physical and psychological victimization.
college dating violence can have negative academic implications. Brewer et al. (2018) found that students who had experienced either stalking or emotional, physical, or sexual abuse from an intimate partner had an increased risk of poor academic performance. This is consistent with findings from Brewer and Thomas (2019), who report that students perceive their abuse and subsequent physical or mental health symptoms as negatively impacting their academic success.
