Trauma Exposure and Academic Performance in African American College Students

The purpose of the present study is to examine the association between self-reported traumatic experiences, trauma-related psychological symptoms, and academic achievement in African American college students. We administered anonymous surveys to 267 African American undergraduate students measuring traumatic experiences, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, major depressive disorder symptoms, and grade point average (GPA). We examined gender differences in incidence of traumatic experiences using Chi Square. We additionally used a linear regression to examine whether trauma experiences, PTSD symptoms, or depression predicted GPA. All but one participant reported one or more severe traumatic experiences. Women were more likely to report experiencing sexual assault, and men were more likely to report non-sexual traumas (e.g., armed robbery, beating). Men also reported more traumatic experiences in general. Higher incidence of traumatic experiences was associated with lower GPA. Results suggest that a history of traumatic experiences is a significant risk factor for low college achievement, and emphasize the need to provide screening and treatment for trauma exposure in African American students.

Aruguete, M.S., J.L. (2019). Trauma Exposure and Academic Performance in African American College Students. North American Journal of Psychology Vol. 21 Issue 3 (September 2019). 573-582.