Page 138 - GHES-3-3

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Polyvictimization and suicidal behaviors

from the people surrounding polyvictimized college
students, such as family members, peers, classmates, school
staff, and faculty, is a crucial factor in reducing students’
suicidal thoughts/behaviors. Perceiving others’ interest in
them may lead students to feel positive about themselves,
subsequently reducing their suicidal thoughts/behaviors.
To enhance the levels of perceived social support,
universities should consider implementing campus-wide
actions. For instance, motivational interviewing (MI) is
an evidence-based approach that can be considered. This
approach is centered on “a respectful and curious way
of being with people that facilitate the natural process of
change and honors client autonomy” (Miller & Rollmeick,
2013). A systematic review reported that medical students
who received medical school–based MI could successfully
Figure 2. Perceived social support as a moderator in the relationship work with patients on their maladaptive health behaviors
between polyvictimization and suicidal thoughts/behaviors (Kaltman & Tankersley, 2020). Therefore, conducting
campus-wide MI training can improve college students’
facing stressful events. Consequently, their resilience may active listening and positive interaction skills, gradually
contribute to a reduction in suicidal thoughts/behaviors. fostering support for polyvictims on campus and reducing
Building resilience is especially essential for college their suicidal thoughts/behaviors.
students’ health and successful completion of studies. This study identifies significant protective factors against
Since 2020 (i.e., COVID-19), college students have faced polyvictims’ suicidal thoughts/behaviors; however, it has
numerous challenges, including a lack of social bonds and certain limitations. The study could not demonstrate causal
a sense of belonging, ambiguity about their future, and inferences between polyvictimization, suicidal thoughts/
struggles with academic performance and overall well- behaviors, and resilience due to its cross-sectional research
being (Lederer et al., 2021). For instance, students are now design. To establish direct and indirect causal effects, future
required to adapt to new classroom settings, such as hybrid research should adopt a longitudinal study design. The
or online classes, rather than traditional classrooms. Those participants were recruited through convenience sampling
with lower levels of resilience may require more time to from four universities across the midwestern, south-
adjust to these changes or may even consider dropping central, and southern regions of the U.S., which restricts
out. Consequently, given that polyvictimized college the generalizability of the results. Thus, future studies need
students represent vulnerable populations, the cultivation to recruit participants from the entire U.S. college student
of resilience could significantly enhance their likelihood of population. Polyvictimization includes questions about
academic success and contribute to their overall mental and abusive childhood experiences, which are retrospective,
behavioral well-being. Therefore, colleges and universities making them subjective or dependent on each participant’s
should consider implementing resilience programs to build life experiences. This subjectivity may impact the accuracy
vulnerable populations’ positive self-appraisals, which may of this study. Future studies should explore participants’
support students in achieving academic milestones and unique characteristics, such as socioeconomic status, cultural
promote their well-being. backgrounds/values, and sexual minority status, to explore
In addition, regarding hypothesis 3, our findings how these elements influence their abusive childhood
indicate that college students who are exposed to experiences. This exploration will contribute to understanding
polyvictimization face an increased risk of suicidal polyvictims’ paths of adverse childhood experiences.
thoughts/behaviors. However, those with higher levels
of perceived social support are less likely to experience 5. Conclusion
suicidal thoughts/behaviors compared with those with This study’s findings offer insights into the crucial role
lower levels. Studies have supported the role of positive of resilience and perceived social support from the
perceived social support as a protective factor against environment in influencing the emotions and behaviors of
suicidal thoughts/behaviors (Hou et al., 2022; Standley polyvictims. To promote their resilience and social support,
& Foster‐Fishman, 2021), making our examination of universities need to consider micro as well as macro
this relationship within polyvictimization populations a interventions. A campus-wide intervention program
unique contribution. According to our findings, interest aiming to encourage positive self-appraisal can ultimately

Volume 3 Issue 3 (2025) 130 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.3737