Can Witnessing Domestic Violence Predict Risky Health Behaviors of University Students?

Various physical, mental, and behavioral disorders are reported among individuals who witness violence. This study was designed to examine university students' risky health behaviors after witnessing domestic violence. In this study, 2,509 university students, selected using the stratified sampling method in terms of sex and study year, were included. Path analysis was performed to examine the relationships between sociodemographic variables and risky health behaviors. We found that witnessing domestic violence directly increased substance abuse and alcohol consumption in the entire study population and partner violence among female participants. By adding the variable of witnessing domestic violence to the equation as a mediator, the effect of sociodemographic characteristics on risky health behaviors changed.