Risk Profiles Among College Students: Associations with Pathological Personality Traits and Mental Health Issues

Research has shown that although aggression and victimization often co-occur, individuals may differ in terms of their involvement with aggression, experiences of victimization as well as their social-psychological adjustment. Two studies investigated whether there are distinct groups of college students who experience different subtypes of aggression (e.g., reactive & proactive) and victimization. We also examined whether these groups differ from one another in their psychological profiles (e.g., maladaptive personality traits and emotion dysregulation), mental health, and substance use. Study 1 included 715 undergraduate students (53.6% female; 78.7% White; average age = 19.37 years, SD = 1.42) and Study 2 included 780 undergraduates (63.7% female; 75.3% White; average age = 19.42, years SD = 1.44). Hypotheses for Study 2 were pre-registered, and a multiverse approach was taken in both studies to demonstrate the robustness of the results. Across both studies, latent profile analysis identified three groups: low involvement, victim-only, and combined aggressor/victim. Characteristics of group members also differed across the three groups. Individuals in the combined aggressor/victim group exhibited the poorest psychosocial profile across both studies. In Study 1, the combined group reported significantly higher levels of Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, and callous-unemotional traits. In Study 2, the combined group reported significantly higher levels of psychopathy, callous-unemotional traits, and sadism. Mental health symptoms and substance use were similar for individuals who reported being victimized and for those who engaged in aggression in addition to being victimized. These findings enhance our understanding of the heterogeneity in aggression and victimization among college students and highlight the importance of developing interventions to reduce aggressive behaviors and target their specific mental health needs.