Childhood Victimization and Physical Health Symptoms Among First-Year College Students

Authors

• Chelsey Bowman, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA cbowman@childrensnational.org.
• Rachel Oblath, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
• Jennifer Greif Green, Wheelock College of Education & Human Development, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
• Melissa Holt, Wheelock College of Education & Human Development, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2-14-2026

Journal

Violence and victims

DOI

10.1891/VV-2023-0011

Keywords

bullying; child abuse; dating violence; sexual assault

Abstract

This study examined the association of childhood victimization with physical health symptoms among first-year college students. Participants (N = 655) from three U.S. universities completed an online survey in fall 2012 that assessed multiple forms of childhood victimization and current physical and mental health. In bivariate models, all forms of childhood victimization were significantly associated with physical health except physical peer victimization. Multivariate regression models indicated that childhood sexual assault (β = .09, p < .05) and verbal peer victimization (β = .12, p < .01) were positively associated with current physical health symptoms even after controlling for other forms of childhood victimization and current mental health. Findings bolster the need for campus health centers to screen for childhood victimization, particularly sexual assault and verbal peer victimization, when providing both physical and mental health services to students.

APA Citation

Bowman, Chelsey; Oblath, Rachel; Green, Jennifer Greif; and Holt, Melissa, "Childhood Victimization and Physical Health Symptoms Among First-Year College Students" (2026). GW Authored Works. Paper 8713.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/8713

Department

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences