Abstract:

The transition to university represents an important milestone for many young people and this experience can be more challenging for students with a history of personal trauma. Efforts to support students through the transition to university require a comprehensive understanding of the factors that place students at risk for negative outcomes. This study was conducted in South Africa, a developing country characterised by a high prevalence of exposure to traumatic events among young people. Existing research has suggested that exposure to trauma is associated with poorer academic performance and dropout from university. The current study investigated lifetime exposure to traumatic events among a sample of undergraduate students (N = 218) in a developing country with a view towards understanding its impact on their educational attainment. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Life Events Checklist which assesses for potentially traumatic events and the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Checklist which provides information on symptoms of PTSD. The majority of participants had experienced multiple traumatic events. The most frequently experienced traumas among the sample were physical assault (74.5%), life threatening illness or injury (52.3%), and transportation accident (69.5%). Certain types of traumatic events were reported at a higher rate by women, compared to men. This included sexual assault (19.9% for women and 6.4% for men), unwanted sexual experience (34.5% for women and 19.1% for men), and sudden violent death (27.5% for women and 8.5% for men). The implications of these findings for student academic attainment are discussed with particular reference to its impact on student engagement and throughput. In addition, the gendered nature of trauma exposure and its implications for the educational attainment of women are explored.

Keywords:

Trauma, PTSD, South Africa, educational attainment, student throughput.