Incidence of Violence Experienced by the College Students during Childhood and its Association with Income:A Retrospective Study

Violence against children has become a grave reality and a global phenomenon. The increasing rate of reported violence against children prompted the researchers to carry out a retrospective study on this issue among Kolkata college students to get a better idea about the issue. It is believed that college students may not be hesitant to share childhood incidence of abuse since they are matured now. The main objective of the current study was to ascertain the prevalence and nature of violence experienced by the students during childhood in Kolkata and its association with income. A group of 400 undergraduate and graduate students (221 females and 189 males) and were in the aged ranging between 18 and 25 years participated in the study voluntarily and data were collected by using a through specially designed "semi-structured questionnaire." Findings revealed that 70.8% (283/400) of the students experienced some form of violence during childhood as reported (57.5% males and 81.4% females) and in this regard significant difference was observed (P<0.001). Of the total subjects who experienced some form of violence, about 49.5% (198/400), 37.8% (151/400), and 27% (108/400) experienced verbal/psychological, physical, and sexual violence respectively, while 25.5% (102/400) of the students witnessed violence within the family. Further analysis revealed that male and female students differed significantly in experiencing verbal violence (P<0.001), physical violence (P<0.001), sexual violence (P<0.001). Furthermore, violence was observed to prevail more in lower and higher income groups rather than middle income group (P<0.05). The issue requires attention of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and Child Welfare Committee.