[Prevalence and risk factors of violence against women among Spanish female university students]

Abstract

The prevalence of violence against women and the associated risk factors were determined among Spanish female university students using a stratified random sample of 1043 women (mean age 22.2 years). Demographic, academic and abuse-related information was collected in interviews with female psychologists. The lifetime prevalence of violence was 15.2%; in 41.5% of these cases the abuser had been the woman's boyfriend or husband, in 50.9% some other male, and in 7.6% abuse by both sources had been experienced. Past-year prevalence was 7.1%. The risk factors identified were age > 19 years, annual family income > ? 18,000, medium family cultural level, urban family residence, and childhood or adolescent experience of witnessing abuse. It is concluded that awareness campaigns should be carried out to forestall violence against women targeting female university students, and that counselling services should be established to aid those who have already suffered such violence.