Intimate Partner Violence and Academic Challenges Among College Students: The Role of Campus Belonging and Campus Community Safety

Objective: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with negative academic outcomes for college students. College student survivors with a strong sense of belonging and safety on campus may be better equipped to cope with the aftermath of IPV. This study investigated perceived campus belonging and campus community safety as mediators between IPV experiences and academic challenges among college students. Method: We analyzed a cross-sectional, national sample of college students who completed the National College Health Assessment III Fall 2019 panel (n = 38,679). Participants had a mean age of 22.52 years, and the majority identified as women (62.43%). Data analysis consisted of mediation analyses and logistic regression models. Results: Those with IPV victimization experiences reported a greater rate of academic challenges and lower perceived campus belonging and campus community safety than nonsurvivors. Significant interactions between students' identities (i.e., race/ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation) and IPV experiences on academic challenges were identified. Perceived campus belonging and campus community safety both partially mediated the relationship between IPV and academic challenges. Conclusion: Institutions of higher education have strong incentives for addressing protective factors in IPV prevention and intervention. Universities should emphasize safe and inclusive spaces, survivor-centered policies, and trauma-informed training for administrators, faculty, and staff. This study points to the importance of going beyond risk factors to harness strengths and connections.