NIJ FY23 National Study Examining Interpersonal Violence Experienced By Young Adults

This project will examine the extent and consequences of interpersonal violence (IV) among college-aged persons. To better understand the risks for, experiences with, and consequences of IV among young adults, this study will design a nationally representative, longitudinal study examining trajectories of risk for, experiences with, and recovery after experiencing IV among young adults. Of particular interest are the differences between the victimization and perpetration of those who do and do not attend college. The study will be designed to examine a range of IV committed by partners, family members, acquaintances, and strangers, including nonconsensual sexual contact, intimate partner violence, and stalking. The longitudinal study will be designed to produce information that can be used to inform prevention and intervention strategies and policies targeted at the causal factors of IV perpetration and victimization. In building from the last NIJ planning project, Westat, in partnership with colleagues at University of Cincinnati and New York University, will work with NIJ to develop the methods for: (1) measurement of IV, including risk factors associated with and responses to experiences of IV; (2) sample design; (3) respondent recruitment and retention methods; (4) data weighting and estimation; and (5) analysis, reporting, and dissemination. An Advisory Board will provide feedback on all aspects of the design, especially how best to translate the research into programmatic actions, to prevent IV. Our initial proposed design, based on results from the previously NIJ funded pilot, involves recruiting young adults via requests through the USPS who are exiting their high school year. Eligible individuals will be identified via a general population frame supplemented by targeted lists maintained by vendors. Eligible young people will be asked to fill out a background survey on the web and then asked to complete five surveys over the remaining 6 years of the multi-year-project. We propose for consideration additional features to enhance the design to sharpen the power of the study, such as conducting more frequent surveys to identify immediate precursors to IV. A pilot study will be carried out to update the response rates for the proposed procedures, as well as further evaluate methods to recruit respondents. The project will result in a comprehensive plan to implement the longitudinal study, as well as an OMB package that can be submitted for approval to conduct the larger study. CA/NCF