Traumatic events among undergraduate students: Prevalence and associated symptoms.
Abstract
This multisite study assessed the prevalence of exposure to traumatic events and associated symptoms among undergraduate students (N = 1,528) using online surveys. Most students (85%) reported having experienced a traumatic event in their lifetime (Time 1) and 21% reported experiencing an event over a 2-month period during college (Time 2). The most common event reported at both time points was the unexpected death of a loved one. Lifetime exposures to family violence, unwanted sexual attention, and sexual assault were associated with higher current distress levels. When nominated as a worst event, sexual assault was associated with the most posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Events that caused intense fear, helplessness, or horror and those that were intentionally caused were associated with higher distress levels. Total number of lifetime traumas consistently had the highest associations with distress levels. Implications for counseling psychology practice, training, and research are discussed.
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The results of the current study align with earlier research findings by Watson and Haynes (2007) and Frazier et al. (2009).
“These results align with earlier research findings by Watson and Haynes (2007) and Frazier et al. (2009).”
From Traumatic Events, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Post-Traumatic Growth among University Students in Kabul City (2025) · cites this paper as Frazier et al. (2009)
Cites
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Does Self-Reported Posttraumatic Growth Reflect Genuine Positive Change?
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Trauma and PTSD symptoms: Does spiritual struggle mediate the link?
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Mindfulness moderates the relation between trauma and anxiety symptoms in college students
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Self-Compassion and Trauma Processing Outcomes Among Victims of Violence
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Ayubi, B., Sediqi, K. Z., & Mirzaee, M. J. (2025) · Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities · doi:10.62810/jssh.v2i3.114
- Authors
- Frazier, P., Anders, S., Perera, S., Tomich, P., Tennen, H., Park, C., & Tashiro, T.
- Venue
- Journal of Counseling Psychology
- Published
- 2009-07
- Volume
- 56
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 450-460
- ISSN
- 1939-2168
- 0022-0167
- Cited by
- 221
- References
- 8
- Language
- en
- Funders
- Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues
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