An evaluation of content related to violence in personal health texts

Abstract

Intentional injuries continue to disproportionately affect young people in the USA and around the world. College campuses themselves are often sites of violent acts. College personal health courses rely upon personal wellness textbooks as resources to raise awareness, provide current scientifically based information, and offer strategies and skills for behavior change. Ten popular personal health textbooks were reviewed for their coverage of violence. A 61-item coding sheet was created and covered the following three areas related to violence: (1) definitions, data, interventions, and assessment tools; (2) inclusion of types of violence most relevant to college-aged students; and (3) inclusion of types of violence less directly affecting college-aged students. Overall, the evaluated texts had limited inclusion of types of violence most relevant to college-aged students. In conclusion, areas of violence that impact college students had minimal levels of coverage, with most areas being absent or having weak discussion. Given the risks of violence-related deaths, injuries, and psychological effects to college students and their noncollege peers – with whom they may interact – the importance of interpersonal violence as an area in personal wellness texts cannot be overstated.