Prevalence, type, disclosure, and severity of adverse life events in college students.
OBJECTIVE
Some information on the prevalence of adverse life experiences is available for the general population and college students, but the extent, nature, and severity of these events is unclear.


METHODS
The authors recruited undergraduate college students (N = 6,053) from diverse academic settings (public and private schools) and geographic locations.


METHODS
They examined the prevalence, nature, severity, and disclosure of adverse events, in addition to reports of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology within the sample.


RESULTS
Across multiple studies, prevalence rates of adverse events ranged from 55.8% to 84.5%, replicating previous findings in larger samples. In a subset of undergraduate students (n = 97) who the authors interviewed in greater depth, 9% reported symptoms of clinical PTSD and an additional 11% reported subclinical symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Research using college samples for the study of stressful life events is a useful and reasonable strategy. The authors discuss implications for research, as well as screening and referral services at universities.
Smyth
Joshua M
JM
Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA. jmsmyth@syr.edu
Hockemeyer
Jill R
JR
Heron
Kristin E
KE
Wonderlich
Stephen A
SA
Pennebaker
James W
JW
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011584:Psychology / Q000193:education; D012572:School Health Services; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015206:Southwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data