Childhood adversities among students at an English University: A latent class analysis

ABSTRACT

University students routinely participate in research, including research on trauma and adversity, but the unique implications of trauma and adversity for educational and developmental outcomes for this group have received less attention. This study surveyed first year undergraduate students at an urban university located in the most ethnically diverse district in England, with the second highest poverty rate. Of 7,110 students, 858 responded; a response rate of 12%. The survey included thirteen questions about adverse events and circumstances before age 18. Four in five students (79%) reported at least one adversity, 51% reported three or more, and 20% reported at least six. Female students reported a higher mean number of adversities than men, but men were significantly more likely to report having been “attacked, stabbed, shot or robbed by threat.” Where comparisons were possible, rates were higher than for the general population or for the only other UK university survey. A Latent Class Analysis produced four groupings. Besides the ’No adversity’ (36%) and “Intermediate” (46%) classes, there were two “High adversity” groups, differentiated by high (12%) or moderate (6%) adversities related to cohabitation (parental separation, lived with depressed person, lived with alcohol/drug user, and lived with incarcerated person). Higher rates of adversities, and latent class membership, were related to predictions that one would not complete one’s degree. Implications and next steps are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Childhood adversities
• child abuse
• child neglect
• trauma-informed
• universities

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to thank the multi-disciplinary Beyond Adversity Advisory Group, drawn from various components of the University of East London: Natalie Freeman (Volunteering Manager), Dr Eva Galante (Bioscience), Dr Rawad Hammad (Computing), Mohammad Ismail (Student Union President), Gail May (Director of Civic Engagement), John McCarthy (Head of Student Wellbeing Services), Dr Rebecca Page-Tickell (Business and Law), Dr Elizabeth Stokes (Business and Law) and Dr Angie Voela (Social Sciences).

The project could not have succeeded without the enthusiasm and hard work of the student interns: Halima Sacdia Abdirahman, Rozina Ashraf, Khalid Fata, Sophie Fletcher, Aliyah Jeewa, Chloe Mzimba and Nangyaly Shinwari

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Funding was provided through a competitive process within UEL for Office for Student funding under UEL’s Access and Participation Plan.