Campus Safety Experiences of Asian American and Asian International College Students

Using a subsample from the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment data set collected in 2014 (N = 2,385), this study examines experiences of victimization and campus safety among Asian American and Asian international undergraduate students. Findings indicate that both groups experience more verbal threats than other forms of victimization. Most students reported feeling safe on campus during the day; however, both groups had higher rates of people reporting that they feel unsafe on campus and in the community surrounding the campus at night, with significantly more Asian Americans reporting these experiences than Asian international students. Logistic regressions examining the impact of victimization and safety on mental health (anxiety, depression, and suicidality) reflect between- and within-groups differences for these 2 groups. The impact of Asian Americans' experiences of victimization and safety was evident across all 3 mental health outcomes. Among Asian international students, having been in a fight significantly predicted anxiety. Findings from this study can be used to begin to inform campus-wide efforts to help Asian American and Asian international students feel safer.