STAR*PR

Violence across the home, school, and community settings is pervasive (Office of Justice, 2020) and detrimental to mental health (Schaefer et al., 2018). Known as poly-victimization, prior research has demonstrated that instances of violence are not experienced in isolation, but rather concurrently with other types of violence (Finkelhor et al., 2009). Among college students, racial/ethnic minoritized individuals and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds are at heightened risk of experiencing multiple types of victimization (Berzin, 2010). While a dearth of research has examined the poly-victimization in Puerto Rican college students, one recent study conducted across eleven universities in Puerto Rico showed there is a high prevalence of intimate partner violence (Villafañe-Santiago et al., 2018). To capture the multiple types of violence that Puerto Rican college students experience and its effects, the Study on Trauma, Adversity, and Resilience in Puerto Rico (STAR*PR) will recruit 250 college students from a university in Puerto Rico to participate in an online survey assessing victimization rates, academic outcomes, mental health, and risk and resilience factors. More specifically, STAR*PR will: 

1. Investigate the rates of violence exposure and discrimination experiences among Puerto Rican university students; 

2. Assess the impact of these experiences on the academic functioning (e.g., GPA, academic engagement) of Puerto Rican university students; 

3. Assess the impact of these experiences on the psychological functioning (e.g., mental health, self-esteem) of Puerto Rican university students; 

4. Identify potential protective factors or coping strategies that may mitigate the negative effects of violence and discrimination on academic and psychological functioning 

Findings from this study will provide valuable insights into the experiences of Puerto Rican university students with violence and discrimination and their impact on academic and psychological functioning. The results may inform the development of targeted interventions and support services aimed at addressing the unique needs of Puerto Rican students. By shedding light on these experiences, findings may inform strategies for promoting resilience and well-being among this population.