Housing Insecurity Among College Students: Associations with Interpersonal Violence Victimization

Abstract

One of the most significant economic impacts of sexual and dating violence across the lifespan is housing insecurity and homelessness. However, research on the association between housing instability and interpersonal violence among college students is limited. As such, the purpose of this study is to better understand the association between sexual and dating violence victimization and housing security among college students using data from a campus climate assessment administered on two campuses of a large, urban public university in the northeast. To reduce response burden there were rotating survey modules used so participants were assigned to either the sexual violence ( n = 2,672) or dating violence ( n = 1,645) module. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between sexual violence victimization or dating violence victimization since coming to college and past year housing insecurity among college students and which types of housing insecurity were associated with sexual violence victimization. Student-survivors who experienced sexual violence had 2.5 times greater odds of experiencing housing insecurity compared to students who had not experienced sexual violence since coming to the university. Similarly, students who experienced physical or psychological dating violence since entering college had four times greater odds respectively of experiencing housing insecurity compared to students who did not experience dating violence. Campus and community-based services for college students are impactful at addressing academic and safety concerns and should incorporate supportive services related to housing.