Nearly half of college student report experiencing relationship violence

A survey of college students found that 44 percent had experienced some type of relationship violence before or during college (Source: “Violence Is Common Among The Young,” Washington Post, July 22, 2008). The survey of 910 students was conducted at a community college, a mid-size Catholic university and an Ivy League university.

Despite the varying socioeconomics at the three schools, all three reported similar rates of exposure to relationship violence. Relationship violence "crosses socioeconomic levels, race and gender, and is prevalent across ages," said lead researcher Christine Forke, a registered nurse at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

The results were published in the July issue of the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine.