The Effects of Childhood Trauma on College Completion

• DOI: 10.1007/s11162-022-09677-9
• Publication Date: 2022-02-09T12:21:26Z
• Authors: Natalie Lecy; Philip Osteen
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; 10. No inequality

AbstractThis study uses the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health to examine the effect of childhood trauma experiences on college graduation rates. A longitudinal mediation path analysis with a binary logistic regression is performed using trauma as a mediator between race, gender, first-generation status and college completion. The analysis reveals that being female and a continuing-generation student are both associated with greater likelihood of graduating college and that trauma mediates the relationship between race, gender, first-generation status and college completion. The authors explore the implications for these findings for policy, practice, and future research.