Poly-victimization in a Norwegian adolescent population: Prevalence, social and psychological profile, and detrimental effects

Abstract

BackgroundThis study focuses on poly-victimization, with the aim of providing a realistic estimation of the prevalence of lifetime victimization in a Norwegian adolescent population (ages 18–19 years).MethodsBased upon the concept from previous research, we applied measures of child poly-victimization on Norwegian data obtained from a national youth survey in 2015 (N = 4,531) to arrive at an estimation of its prevalence. We used variables that measure individual characteristics such as gender and educational aspiration and socio-economic factors such as parents’ education level and home economic situation to derive a social and psychological profile of victimization and poly-victimization among young people. Finally, we estimated the effects of poly-victimization on mental health such as symptoms of depression, anxiety and trauma.ResultsOur study identified a poly-victimization prevalence of 8.6% among young people, i.e. they were exposed to three of all four forms of violence investigated by our study: non-physical violence, witnessing violence against parents, physical violence and sexual abuse. Adolescents of poly-victimization are six times more likely to report depression and anxiety and trauma when compared with those without victimization.ConclusionsPoly-victimization is a phenomenon that heavily burdens many young people across many national contexts. Poly-victims clearly tend to develop depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress symptoms. The early detection of sexual abuse, physical violence, and bullying victimization is of critical importance and preventive measures could consider addressing family factors through parental educational programs.

Acoso escolar en adolescentes: rol, tipo de violencia y determinantes

“…Regarding the type of violence exercised, the prevalence of verbal violence and non-physical violence have been reported slightly lower in other studies (40.5-53.6%) (14)(15) than that found in this study (66.5%). The prevalence of physical harassment is similar to that previously published but presents a greater variability (from 18.5% to 47%).…”

Improving measurement of child abuse and neglect: A systematic review and analysis of national prevalence studies

“…By 2019, the Violence Against Children Surveys (VACS), which also measure the prevalence of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, had been conducted in 16 countries and were being planned in a further eight countries in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean [30,[77][78]. Other studies have considered the prevalence of a mixture of peer violence and maltreatment by parents or caregivers [79][80]. Accordingly, a good deal of evidence has been generated about the prevalence of child maltreatment in several dozen nations, representing substantial progress in the international understanding of the epidemiology of child maltreatment.…”

Ungdoms utsatthet for flere typer alvorlige hendelser

“…1. Noe av analysene har blitt publisert i Mossige & Huang (2017). TABELL 6.1 Omfang av alle typer av utsatthet for vold eller overgrep i form av fire former for vold i tolv forskjellige situasjoner,* og sammensetningen av flerutsatthet (%) Note: * (S1) -(S12) Hver gjelder for en situasjon med vold; # Få av informantene oppga alder hvor de var vitne til vold mellom foreldre eller da de ble utsatt for verbal utskjelling fra foreldre.…”

“…Også i andre land som Storbritannia (Radford et al, 2011), Spania (Pereda, Guilera & Abad, 2014), Canada (Cyr et al, 2013), og i Sverige (Aho, Gren-Logell & Svedin, 2016a) er det gjennomført studier av flerutsatthet.…”

“…Disse rapporterte om erfaringer med i gjennomsnitt seks typer og situasjoner av utsatthet. Omfanget av å ha vaert utsatt for flere traumer i vårt utvalg sammenfaller med hva man har funnet i svenske studier (Aho et al, 2016a) og i Canada (Cyr et al, 2013), men er forskjellig fra hva man finner i en spansk studie (Pereda et al, 2014). Hvis vi tar i bruk definisjonen til Finkelhor og medarbeidere (Finkelhor et al, 2011), hvor reviktimisering ble definert som omfanget av utsatthet blant de 10 % som hadde rapportert om det høyeste antall former for utsatthet, så tyder våre data på at disse 10 % i vår studie hadde vaert utsatt for fra 5 til 12 typer og situasjoner for utsatthet.…”