Location
Room 217, Schewel Hall
Access Type
Open Access
Entry Number
122
Start Date
4-5-2023 11:15 AM
End Date
4-5-2023 11:30 AM
College
Lynchburg College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Psychology
Keywords
victimization, age, crime, depression, anxiety, PTSD, eating disorders
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between crime victimization, age at the time of victimization, and psychological health. Past research has shown that crime victimization has been linked to higher levels of depression and suicidal ideation, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and eating disorders, and that those who experience a traumatic event as a child are influenced more negatively than those who experience trauma as an adult. Undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty and staff were surveyed to determine their experiences with crime, age, and levels of depression, anxiety, PTSD, eating disorder symptomology, and resilience. The hypotheses were partially supported. Results showed that victims of sexual assault or rape had higher levels of anxiety and PTSD than nonvictims and that victims of other crimes had higher levels of PTSD than nonvictims. Age was not found to be a significant factor in levels of psychological health. These findings indicate that there should be a focus on helping victims of crimes, including providing access to mental health resources, prosecuting crimes that are reported, and implementing new ways to decrease crime.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Alisha Marciano
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The Mind and Crime: Criminal Victimization, Age, and Psychological Wellbeing
Room 217, Schewel Hall
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between crime victimization, age at the time of victimization, and psychological health. Past research has shown that crime victimization has been linked to higher levels of depression and suicidal ideation, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and eating disorders, and that those who experience a traumatic event as a child are influenced more negatively than those who experience trauma as an adult. Undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty and staff were surveyed to determine their experiences with crime, age, and levels of depression, anxiety, PTSD, eating disorder symptomology, and resilience. The hypotheses were partially supported. Results showed that victims of sexual assault or rape had higher levels of anxiety and PTSD than nonvictims and that victims of other crimes had higher levels of PTSD than nonvictims. Age was not found to be a significant factor in levels of psychological health. These findings indicate that there should be a focus on helping victims of crimes, including providing access to mental health resources, prosecuting crimes that are reported, and implementing new ways to decrease crime.