Differences in Risk Factors for Experiencing Interpersonal Violence Among Racial Groups

Background: Because an individual’s race impacts how they experience the world, it is important to consider racial differences in experiences of interpersonal violence. Current prevention methods do not use culturally informed strategies tailored to the unique risk factors of each community. Research does not provide a comprehensive picture the factors that increase risk of victimization for students of color. This study sought to understand the particular characteristics of Black, White and Hispanic students that increase their risk of experiencing interpersonal violence victimization.

Method: The current study seeks to identify the patterns of victimization among a national sample of college students (n=75,229). Data from the Spring 2013 American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment II survey were used. Using measures of violent, sexual, and stalking victimizations, we use latent class analysis to identify group membership, based on experiencing these three types of victimization. Once the classes were determined, we then incorporate risk factors to predict class membership. In doing so, we account for common risk factors for victimization and compare the predictors of class membership across race/ethnic groups Black (n=4,898), Hispanic (12,121) and White (58,210).

Results: The five victim classes were non-victim, physical assault, highly victimized, high sexual and physical assault/low in victimization by an intimate partner, and intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV). The effects of Greek membership varied between White and Black respondents; for the IPSV victimization class, Greek life trended toward harmful for Black respondents but had no impact on White respondents. Amongst all respondents, having a greater number of sexual partners and more mental health problems increased the odds of being in all four victim classes. For Black and White students, binge drinking increased the odds of being in the physical and sexually assaulted class; but it was more harmful for White students. For all students, being a freshman correlated with an increased odds of being in all of the victimized classes. Only Hispanic respondents were at a higher risk of being in physical assault, or physical and sexual assault classes when they identified as single. Having a disability significantly increased the odds of being in all four of the victim classes for all respondents Finally, engaging in safe partying practices reduced the risk of being in the sexually and physically assaulted class, for all respondents; however, it only had a significant effect on White students.

Conclusions: Current risk reduction approaches are centered on the experiences of cis White women. Therefore, the unique vulnerabilities of those with marginalized identities may not be addressed in traditional violence prevention programs. This analysis demonstrates that race plays an important factor in an individual’s vulnerability to different types of violence. Those factors like binge drinking, reducing partying, and being a member of a Greek organization, that are typically discussed in violence prevention did not increase the likelihood of victimization similarly across all races. Future research needs to include other races of respondents, including Asian and Indigenous students. With this additional research, culturally informed prevention and intervention programs can be created.