Prevalence and Determinants of Family Violence Exposure among University Students

Abstract

Objective: To provide evidence-based information to support nursing practice, public health interventions, and policy development to reduce family violence and improve student well-being.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the College of Nursing, University of Al-Essra, Iraq from 15th January 2026 to 31st March 2026.

Methods: Convenience sampling was used to find participants. The WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire and a validated violence scale were used to gather data in order to achieve the goals of the study.

Results: An overall moderate mean prevalence of family violence exposure among the students (1.83±0.930), though a significant proportion of participants reported experiencing high levels of abuse. Age and social status were found to be significantly associated with a student's exposure to family violence. Conversely, academic year and financial status did not demonstrate a statistically significant relationship with violence exposure.

Conclusion: Baseline of family violence across the broader student population may skew lower, the significant subset of students experiencing moderate to high levels of household abuse is a major concern. The identification of age and social status as key determinants highlights the urgent need for targeted, sociodemographically tailored interventions and preventive strategies to protect and support vulnerable young adults.