Lifetime prevalence and incidence of sexual victimization of adolescents in institutional care

Allroggen, Marc; Rau, Thea; Ohlert, Jeannine; Fegert, Jörg M.

doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.02.015

Cited by 53 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Further, the random route approach used has the effect of systematically excluding people in special housing programs, meaning that high-risk populations, such as residents of child welfare institutions and people with certain disabilities, might have been underrepresented. Rates of child maltreatment have been shown to be considerably higher in such subgroups in comparison to the general population [ 44 ]. There was also underrepresentation of people who did not hold German citizenship; and, because data were acquired using questionnaires that respondents had to complete on their own, individuals with insufficient German language skills were excluded.…”

Section: Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trends in child maltreatment in Germany: comparison of two representative population-based studies

Witt

Glaesmer

Jud

et al. 2018

Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health

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BackgroundChild maltreatment of all types is a serious concern for society, and it is important to monitor trends in incidence in order to inform child welfare agencies and policy-makers about emerging issues. In Germany, however, information on such trends is limited: apart from official sources, the only published study is a comparison of surveys conducted in 1992 and 2011 that had focused primarily on sexual abuse. The present study is the first to look at more recent trends and to examine other types of maltreatment as well.MethodsWe compared the datasets of two population-based nationwide surveys, one conducted in 2010 (N = 2504) and the other in 2016 (N = 2510). Both had used identical methodology. Participants aged 14 years and older had been selected randomly using the Kish selection grid method, and information about childhood experiences of abuse had been solicited using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire.ResultsThe overall percentage of respondents who reported having experienced at least one type of child maltreatment decreased over the 6 years, from 35.3% in 2010 to 31.0% in 2016; however, the percentages who reported multiple types of maltreatment remained stable. The decrease in any type of maltreatment was mainly driven by fewer reports of physical neglect, which was likelier to be reported by older respondents who had experienced privation during the (post-) war years and whose representation was lower in the later survey. There was a significant increase over time in the prevalence of emotional abuse, with respondents aged 26–45 years reporting higher rates of this type of maltreatment. The prevalence rates of other types of maltreatment remained unchanged. All effect sizes were very small.ConclusionsAt present, the systems in place in Germany for monitoring the occurrence of child maltreatment are insufficient. While this study contributes to a better understanding, more information is needed, particularly on populations that have been excluded or underrepresented in previous research efforts. As has been done elsewhere, large databases should be set up, using identical methodologies and definitions, in order to accurately assess trends over time in different types of abuse and neglect.

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Section: Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trends in child maltreatment in Germany: comparison of two representative population-based studies

Witt

Glaesmer

Jud

et al. 2018

Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health

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“…In a survey of adolescents living in residential institutions, 20% of participants reported having been sexually assaulted in the last year, with up to two-thirds saying that they were victimized by peers (Euser et al, 2013). A recent study from Germany including 322 adolescents (mean age = 16.69 years, 43% female) living in residential care facilities or boarding schools reported a lifetime prevalence for severe sexual victimization in and outside of institution of 46.7% for girls and 8.0% for boys (Allroggen, Rau, Ohlert, & Fegert, 2017). These numbers underscore the importance of better understanding the phenomenon of sexual abuse in institutions, and the need for more research to determine its extent and to design effective interventions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Prevalence of Sexual Abuse in Institutions: Results From a Representative Population-Based Sample in Germany

et al. 2018

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The lifetime prevalence of sexual abuse in institutional settings in Germany was examined in a sample representative of the general adult population ( N = 2,437). Participants completed a survey on whether they had ever experienced such abuse, its nature (contact, noncontact, forced sexual, intercourse), the type of institution (e.g. school, club), and the relationship of perpetrator to victim (peer, caregiver, staff member). Overall, 3.1% of adult respondents (women: 4.8%, men: 0.8%) reported having experienced some type of sexual abuse in institutions. Adult women reported higher rates of all types than did men, with rates of 3.9% versus 0.8% for contact sexual abuse, 1.2% versus 0.3% for noncontact sexual abuse, and 1.7% versus 0.2% for forced sexual intercourse. We conclude that a remarkable proportion of the general population experiences sexual abuse in institutions, underscoring the need for development of protective strategies. Especially, schools seem to represent good starting points for primary prevention strategies.

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“…On the one hand, it may be argued that poor outcomes of institutionalised youths are due to pre-existing vulnerabilities. For example, children who are placed in an institution tend to come from families that experience a multitude of problems, and have often experienced childhood victimisation, including neglect, physical abuse and sexual abuse (Allroggen, Rau, Ohlert & Fegert, 2017;Greger, Myhre, Lydersen & Jozefiak, 2015;Van Vugt, Lanctôt, Paquette, Collin-Vézina & Lemieux, 2014). Furthermore, these youths often display serious behaviour problems and may suffer from mental health problems (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adult outcomes of youths who have spent time in a judicial treatment institution in the Netherlands

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Bijleveld

2018

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Lifetime prevalence and incidence of sexual victimization of adolescents in institutional care

Cited by 53 publications

References 14 publications

Trends in child maltreatment in Germany: comparison of two representative population-based studies

Trends in child maltreatment in Germany: comparison of two representative population-based studies

The Prevalence of Sexual Abuse in Institutions: Results From a Representative Population-Based Sample in Germany

Adult outcomes of youths who have spent time in a judicial treatment institution in the Netherlands

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