Greater Risk Of Victimization Research Articles

I know it when I see it: How urban Latinx parents describe bullying

Bullying is known to have negative impacts on students’ mental, physical, and emotional health. As many as one in four students experience bullying at some point during the school year. These experiences of bullying can lead to lower academic performance, decreased attendance, and increased behavioral problems. Identifying, preventing, detecting, and responding to bullying cannot be addressed in isolation, as it takes a community approach to lessen the prevalence of bullying, and a critical component of this community is parents. Parental support and connectedness can help mitigate the adverse outcomes of bullying. This study examined parent perceptions of bullying in a majority Latinx urban school. Evidence suggests that bullying is a concern among minority groups as they are at greater risk for victimization in schools. Thus, this research examined how Latinx parents described bullying as it affects their children. This research utilized a skip-logic survey with quantitative and qualitative items to identify themes and patterns as to how Latinx parents defined bullying as it affects their children. The findings from this research denoted that a total of 52.9% of parents indicated that their child had been bullied at school. In this study, there was a clear difference in how the parents of male and female students described bullying experiences. Parents of females indicated that their child experienced verbal/relational bullying, while parents of male students referred to physical bullying. Implications for practice should focus on district efforts to promote collaboration between school and home to improve communication about bullying and expectations needed to identify, prevent, detect, and respond to bullying. Recommendations for future research should include longitudinal research with minority populations to better understand the impact bullying has on this community with unique needs.

Reluctance to Make a “Blind Faith Jump”: LGBTQ+ College Students’ Perspectives on Allies’ Barriers to Preventing Sexual Assault

ABSTRACT Campus sexual assault is a significant problem across the United States, and research has indicated LGBTQ+ students are at a greater risk of victimization than their straight-cisgender peers. Furthermore, LGBTQ+ students face unique barriers to help-seeking following an assault, including fear of stigmatizing the LGBTQ+ community. We propose that straight-cisgender allies may act as vigilant bystanders who notice signs of sexual assault and offer assistance to prevent assault from happening to LGBTQ+ students and/or to offer support after an assault occurs. Yet, research on the role of bystanders in preventing and alleviating sexual assault has largely overlooked experiences and perspectives of LGBTQ+ students. In this study, we explored LGBTQ+ students’ perceptions of the roles straight-cisgender allies may play in alleviating the problem of sexual assault of LGBTQ+ students. We conducted group interviews with 30 LGBTQ+ college students from 19 campuses across the United States, paying attention to what they perceived as barriers to allies’ help. Findings illustrate ways that boundaries between LGBTQ+ insiders and outsiders can leave both groups reluctant to make a “blind faith jump” to seek or offer help. We propose suggestions for how sexual assault prevention programming may bridge this gap between LGBTQ+ students and straight-cisgender allies.

When strength is a weakness.

In general, individuals with low levels of coercive power are at greater risk of victimization than those who are more powerful. However, in some circumstances, superior coercive power increases an individual's vulnerability. In this paper, I show how coercive power can increase vulnerability (offsetting its protective effect) by its effects on targeting and tactics. Individuals with greater coercive power can increase their risk of getting targeted because they tend to be less vigilant and more likely to behave in ways that provoke others. They generate more grievances and have more enemies because they are less compliant and more verbally aggressive and confrontational. Powerful parties are also at greater risk of being targeted by adversaries seeking to gain status. An attack on a strong adversary is more likely to enhance status than an attack on a weaker adversary since it is a greater achievement. Individuals with coercive power are also at greater risk because of the tactics used by their weaker adversaries. Weaker parties are more likely to engage in pre-emptive attack and use weapons. They are better able to attract and rely on allies because of the norm of social responsibility, that is, the tendency to protect those in need. Finally, they are more likely to attempt to kill more power adversaries in order to incapacitate them and, thereby, avoid retaliation.

Cumulative life-course victimization and inflammation in a U.S. national sample: Comparing intersections based on sexual orientation, gender, race/ethnicity, and education

Violence victimization has been associated with low-grade inflammation. Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) individuals are at greater risk for victimization in childhood and young adulthood compared to heterosexuals. Moreover, the intersection of LGB identity with gender, race/ethnicity, and educational attainment may be differentially associated with victimization rates. However, no previous study has examined the role of cumulative life-course victimization during childhood and young adulthood in the association between 1) LGB identity and low-grade inflammation during the transition to midlife, and 2) intersection of LGB identity with gender, race/ethnicity, and educational attainment and low-grade inflammation during the transition to midlife. We utilized multi-wave data from a national sample of adults entering midlife in the United States– the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health; n = 4573) - and tested four bootstrapped mediation models. Results indicate LGB identity, LGB and White, and LGB and Black identities were indirectly associated with low-grade inflammation during the transition to midlife via higher levels of cumulative life-course victimization. Moreover, among LGB adults, the association between 1) less than college education and 2) some college education, and low-grade inflammation was mediated by cumulative life-course victimization. For LGB females, there was a direct association between identity and low-grade inflammation and this association was mediated by cumulative life-course victimization . Reducing accumulation of victimization could be critical for preventing biological dysregulation and disease onset among LGB individuals, particularly for those with multiple marginalized identities.

Phenomenology of abuse and neglect of children with developmental disabilities

Violence against children includes various forms of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. There are numerous factors that can increase the risk of abuse and neglect, and the presence of developmental disabilities is one of them. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the phenomenology of neglect and abuse in children with developmental disabilities. The results of most studies on child abuse and neglect indicate that children with developmental disabilities are at greater risk for victimization than typically developing children. Risk estimates vary, which is a consequence of methodological differences and shortcomings in research designs. According to some findings, the risk of victimization is as much as four times higher compared to children with typical development, and it largely depends on the disability type. Among different types of disabilities, difficulties in emotional, behavioural and intellectual functioning and the presence of multiple disabilities bear the greatest risk for abuse and neglect. The nature of the relationship between disability and violence against children may also depend on the child?s functional level. Research findings indicate that the risk of maltreatment increases with the severity of behavioural problems, deficits in social skills and the presence of pronounced communication difficulties. For some types of disability, the risk for maltreatment is inversely proportional to the level of disability, e.g. children with mild intellectual disability are more often victimized than children with more pronounced difficulties in intellectual development. Indicators of abuse and neglect can be physical or behavioural and are essentially the same for children with developmental disabilities and typically developing children. However, in children with intellectual disabilities and autism, some maltreatment forms are more difficult to identify, and the possibilities of obtaining a verbal statement are limited. Due to problems with abstract thinking, language comprehension and limited vocabulary, these children cannot report adverse experiences or adequately answer the questions being asked. In addition, certain behavioural manifestations of maltreatment can be interpreted as part of the clinical features of these two neurodevelopmental disorders or, on the contrary, certain phenotypic characteristics can be mistakenly attributed to a traumatic experience. The complexity of the victimization phenomenon of children with disabilities implies the need for an interdisciplinary approach and comprehensive systemic solutions in dealing with this problem. From the moment of developmental problems detection, there is a noticeable lack of systemic family support, which should include clear guidelines for exercising the right to health care and social protection, as well as counselling on a child?s developmental possibilities, and application of principles and strategies of behaviorally oriented interventions in child-rearing. The author?s wish is to motivate experts in different fields to carry out a more detailed analysis of the phenomenology of abuse and neglect in the population with disabilities in our country, from which guidelines for preventive activities implementation would arise.

Improving social emotional functioning in adolescents with Developmental Language Disorders: A mini review and recommendations.

Adolescents with Developmental Language Disorders (DLD) have more difficulties in social emotional functioning than their typically developing peers (TD), such as shyness and anxiety in social situations, fewer peer relations, greater risk of victimization, social isolation and depression. In addition, they are more likely to report higher levels of hyperactivity and conduct problems. These problems derive from a complex interplay between difficulties in language, social communication, underlying cognitive deficits in Theory of Mind (ToM), Executive Functioning (EF) and self-directed speech (SDS). The aim of this mini review is to provide an overview of studies examining the effectiveness of interventions targeting the factors underlying social emotional functioning of school-aged children and adolescents with DLD. We found that studies dedicated to social emotional functioning in school-aged children and adolescents with DLD were relatively scarce. Based on this overview, we give suggestions to improve social emotional functioning in adolescents with DLD. We propose that intervention programs should target the social, linguistic and cognitive functions underlying social emotional functioning and create opportunities to practice these skills in daily, real-life situations with peers.

The Stockholm life-course project: investigating offending and non-lethal severe violent victimization

ABSTRACT Much is known about the patterning of offending throughout life, but less about the patterning of victimization. In this study, we used data from the Stockholm Life-Course Project (SLCP), a longitudinal study that includes measures of childhood problem behaviour. We analysed offending (criminal conviction and police suspicion), inpatient hospitalization and outpatient care for violent victimization. We replicated the well-established age-crime curve amongst SLCP study members. We found that hospitalization for severe violent victimization was most likely to occur between 20 and 40 years of age. We additionally considered how childhood problem behaviour impacted overall risk and life-course patterning of offending and victimization. Childhood problem behaviour was associated with a greater risk of criminal conviction. But childhood problem behaviour showed inconsistent associations with risk for police suspicion. Childhood problem behaviour was generally associated with greater involvement in crime up to middle adulthood. Childhood problem behaviour was generally associated with a greater risk of victimization. However, we were limited in our ability to estimate the effect of childhood problem behaviour on life-course patterning of victimization due to the rarity of victimization. These results imply a need for larger studies on violent victimization and greater nuance in our understanding of childhood risks and their life-long outcomes.

Older Victims of Mass Marketing Scams: An Analysis of Data Seized From Scammers

Mass marketing scams are some of the most common frauds in America, and include scams perpetrated through the mail. A growing body of research indicates that older adults face a greater risk of victimization due to age-related changes in cognitive functioning and social isolation, and may be more likely to fall victim repeatedly. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of repeat mass marketing fraud (revictimization) among older adults and patterns of victimization associated with age, scam type, seasonality, and geography. We use two decades of non-public administrative data from the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). These databases were seized during law enforcement investigations of mass mailing scam organizations and contain more than 2 million unique U.S. victims and their transactions with four different fraud organizations. Victims were matched across datasets using name, address, and a change of address file. We find that revictimization rates increase with age in psychic scams. The 10,000 victims who responded the most times (between 82 and 562 times) were 78 years old on average and suffered $4,700 in total losses per person. Other significant trends emerged for lottery and sweepstakes scams. Unlike prior fraud victimization studies, inferences on victim characteristics are based on actual victim experiences with fraud rather than hypothetical scenarios or surveys where victims must self-report fraud. Findings provide valuable policy-relevant information regarding older victims and the patterns of chronic victimization.

Examining the blue line in the rainbow: the interactions and perceptions of law enforcement among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer communities

ABSTRACT Despite the fact that LGBTQ individuals are at greater risk of victimization than the average citizen, the LGBTQ community’s relationship with law enforcement has been a turbulent one. Using a mixed-methods approach, including surveys, semi-structured interviews and observations of town hall meetings, and following the participatory action research framework, this study examines the interactions between the LGBTQ community and law enforcement, and the perceptions of police within the LGBTQ community. The current study demonstrates how members of the LGBTQ community continue to have negative experiences with police that adversely impact their perceptions of law enforcement. Moreover, the findings underline the importance of examining how multiple identities impact an individual’s experiences with and their perceptions of law enforcement. Expanding past research on this topic, this study offers an analysis based upon suggestions of the study’s participants of what steps must be taken in order to improve relations between these two groups.

Perceived Weight and Bullying Victimization in Boys and Girls.

Research suggests that perceived weight poses separate risks from objective weight on adolescents' risks of being bullied. We examined if the prevalence of bullying victimization differed by perceived and objective weight status, and how these associations varied by sex. Data were analyzed for 6716 8th and 11th graders from the School Physical Activity and Nutrition project, a Texas statewide survey of public school students. Participants reported demographics, bullying victimization, and weight perceptions. Height and weight were measured. In the last 6months, 10.8% of students reported being bullied. Nearly 70% of normal weight and overweight and 50% of obese adolescents perceived themselves as weighing the right amount. Perceiving oneself as weighing too little or too much was significantly associated with increased bullying victimization (p < .05 for both), whereas objective weight was not. Statistical interactions between perceived weight and sex were significantly associated with victimization (p < .05) among boys only; boys who perceived themselves as weighing too little had higher predicted probabilities of victimization. Perceived weight may play a greater role in bullying victimization than objective weight, especially among boys. Interventions to prevent bullying should consider adolescents' self-perceptions of weight to effectively identify those at greater risk for victimization.

Relation between social information processing and intimate partner violence in dating couples.

We used couple-level data to predict physical acts of intimate partner violence (IPV) from self-reported negative emotions and social information-processing (SIP) abilities among 100 dating couples (n = 200; mean age = 21.45 years). Participants read a series of hypothetical conflict situation vignettes and responded to questionnaires to assess negative emotions and various facets of SIP including attributions for partner behavior, generation of response alternatives, and response selection. We conducted a series of negative binomial mixed-model regressions based on the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM; Kenny, Kashy, & Cook, 2006, Dyadic data analysis. New York, NY: Guilford Press). There were significant results for the response generation and negative emotion models. Participants who generated fewer coping response alternatives were at greater risk of victimization (actor effect). Women were at greater risk of victimization if they had partners who generated fewer coping response alternatives (sex by partner interaction effect). Generation of less competent coping response alternatives predicted greater risk of perpetration among men, whereas generation of more competent coping response alternatives predicted greater risk of victimization among women (sex by actor interaction effects). Two significant actor by partner interaction effects were found for the negative emotion models. Participants who reported discrepant levels of negative emotions from their partners were at greatest risk of perpetration. Participants who reported high levels of negative emotions were at greatest risk of victimization if they had partners who reported low levels of negative emotions. This research has implications for researchers and clinicians interested in addressing the problem of IPV. Aggr. Behav. 43:329-341, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Diversion of ADHD Stimulants and Victimization Among Adolescents.

To examine whether a recent prescription for stimulant medication is associated with peer victimization among youth with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Data from 4,965 adolescents attending five public schools who completed an annual web survey over 4 years were used to examine recent stimulant medication prescription and self-reported frequent victimization. Adolescents with ADHD and recent stimulant prescription reported more victimization than those without ADHD, but similar to adolescents with ADHD and no recent prescription. Adolescents with ADHD and past 12-month diversion of their prescribed stimulants were at greatest risk of 12-month frequent victimization compared with adolescents without ADHD and adolescents with ADHD but no recent prescription. Youth approached to divert reported more victimization than youth not approached. Youth who diverted reported more victimization than those who did not divert. Close parent-prescriber collaboration is needed to ensure effective medical treatment for ADHD without greater risk for victimization and treatment failure.

Valerie Clark: Intimate Partner Violence Among Adolescents: Causes and Correlates

Valerie Clark’s Intimate Partner Violence among Adolescents examines the degree that intimate partner violence occurs in adolescents as well as its causes and correlates. Her book defines intimate partner violence as violent offending or violent victimization, such as intimate terrorism, violent resistance, situational couple violence, and mutual violent control. Furthermore, intimate partner violence can be mutual or one-sided. She also highlights the key factors that cause intimate partner violence and how intimate partner violence is carried out in relationships, including peers, sex, and drug use. Nevertheless, there are many factors that go into an adolescent relationship especially when teens are at a period in their lives where they feel vulnerable and are searching for their true sense of self. The main purpose of the book was to showcase the prevalence of adolescent violence among intimate partners and to identify the factors that seem to cause the problem. It is written for an audience that is curious about adolescent intimate partner victimization and for those who want to address victimization within intimate partner relationships. As chapter 1 reveals, in recent years, adult couple violence has taken a turn for the worse. Women seem to be primary victims in intimate partner disputes. This poses a question of gender when it comes to violence among intimate partners. Of those who engage in intimate partner violence, men are typically more aggressive in nature and exert coercive control over their partners. Women, however, engage in violence out of self-defense. These results are derived from Clark’s study. Clark reveals how prior studies are limited in that, for example, they focus on only include minor incidents and incidents that are typically not reported to law enforcement. A better study would have included other categories of violence, such as intimate terrorism, violent resistance, and situation couple violence. These categories differ in terms of the pattern in when they are exercised. The author posits that, like adult victimization, adolescents can have similar conflicts in their relationships. But she notes one major difference, adolescents argue for reasons such as jealousy and drug use rather than financial issues or parenthood. Although sex differences exist, intimate partner violence is strongly related to deviant behaviors for both genders as well as peer networks. Researchers have developed theories to try and find out why violence among intimate partners is prevalent. These theories that help us understand adolescents’ intimate partner violence in adolescence are examined in Chapter 2. Clark notes that routine activities theory focuses on motivated offenders, suitable targets, and the absence of capable guardians. Adolescents understand rules, and it is their choice to be obedient to them. If a guardian is not present, then the rules significantly plummet in importance and effectiveness. Adolescents are at greater risk for victimization when they are away from the home. Unlike routine activities theory, lifestyle exposure theory deals with demographics, personal habits, and risk to victimization. The background and habits of an individual influence their actions. For example, since unsupervised adolescents have more opportunities, they are likely to be involved in risky situations. Violent offending stems from opportunity, because it is a time to try new things that often involves delinquent acts. Further, general strain theory is used to explain difficult situations and how those relate to offending behavior. Strain can cause adolescents to act in negative ways or in ways harmful to themselves or others. Moreover, teens typically take their anger out on those they & Ashley Finch ashfinch@indiana.edu

Beyond Clery Act statistics: a closer look at college victimization based on self-report data.

This study examined the relationships among victimization, demographic characteristics, and activity choices in a cross-sectional sample of 479 undergraduate students. In the sample, 74% was female and 65% was Caucasian, with an even distribution of ages ranging from 18 to 22+ years; all participants completed an online survey. Using survey feedback, the study team performed multivariate regression analysis and reported quantity and type of victimization experiences in relation to factors that may contribute to identifying groups at risk for experiencing violence. Findings suggest that gender, grade point average, and membership in student organizations or Greek-letter organizations influence students' potential for different types of victimization. Furthermore, alcohol use and household income did not have a statistically significant relationship with any victimization types. Finally, rates reported indicate student underreporting and illustrate difficulty implementing the Clery Act. Policy recommendations, future research, and limitations are discussed. With accurate victimization data, resources and services may be more efficiently allocated to meet the needs of students at greater risk for victimization.

Sexual victimization of youth with a physical disability: an examination of prevalence rates, and risk and protective factors.

Children with disabilities have been shown to be at greater risk of victimization than those without. Although much of the research combines disability of any type into a single disability category, recent evidence suggests that not all types of disabilities are equally associated with victimization. To date, little knowledge exists about the victimization of youth with physical disabilities. This study used data from a national school-based survey of adolescents (n = 6,749, mean age = 15.41, SD = .66) in Switzerland to investigate sexual victimization (SV) among physically disabled youth. Two subtypes of SV were differentiated: contact SV, including penetration or touching/kissing, and non-contact SV, such as exhibitionism, verbal harassment, exposure to sexual acts, or cyber SV. A total of 360 (5.1%) youth self-identified as having a physical disability. Lifetime prevalence rates for contact SV were 25.95% for girls with a physical disability (odds ratio [OR] = 1.29 compared with able-bodied girls), 18.50% for boys with physical disability (OR = 2.78 compared with able-bodied boys), and 22.35% for the total sample with physical disability (OR = 1.74 compared with able-bodied youth). For non-contact SV, the lifetime prevalence was 48.11% for girls with a physical disability (OR = 1.44 compared with able-bodied girls), 31.76% for boys with physical disability (OR = 1.95 compared with able-bodied boys), and 40.28% for the total sample with physical disability (OR = 1.67 compared with able-bodied youth). After controlling for other risk factors, physical disability was a significant predictor of contact and non-contact SV for boys, but not for girls.

Online Routines and Identity Theft Victimization

Objectives: The purpose of the current study was to extend recent work aimed at applying routine activity theory to crimes in which the victim and offender never come into physical proximity. To that end, relationships between individuals' online routines and identity theft victimization were examined. Method: Data from a subsample of 5,985 respondents from the 2008 to 2009 British Crime Survey were analyzed. Utilizing binary logistic regression, the relationships between individuals' online routine activities (e.g., banking, shopping, downloading), individual characteristics (e.g., gender, age, employment), and perceived risk of victimization on identity theft victimization were assessed. Results: The results suggest that individuals who use the Internet for banking and/or e-mailing/instant messaging are about 50 percent more likely to be victims of identity theft than others. Similarly, online shopping and downloading behaviors increased victimization risk by about 30 percent. Males, older persons, and those with higher incomes were also more likely to experience victimization, as were those who perceived themselves to be at greater risk of victimization. Conclusions: Although the routine activity approach was originally written to account for direct-contact offenses, it appears that the perspective also has utility in explaining crimes at a distance. Further research should continue to explore the online and offline routines that increase individuals' risks of identity theft victimization.

Historical Events and Spaces of Hate: Hate Crimes against Arabs and Muslims in Post-9/11 America

This research investigates variation in hate crime offending against Arabs and Muslims across U.S. counties in the months before and after September 11, 2001. Four questions are of particular interest. First, what were the determinants of anti-Arab and Muslim hate crimes prior to 9/11? Second, in what social contexts were Arabs and Muslims at greatest risk of victimization? Third, to what extent did hate crimes against these groups increase after the terrorist attacks? And last, did the predictors of hate crimes against Arabs and Muslims change appreciably after 9/11? Findings show that hate crimes targeting Arabs and Muslims increased dramatically in the months following 9/11, although the structural determinants and geographic concentration of these crimes remained largely consistent after the attacks. Negative binomial regression results further suggest that counties with larger concentrations of Arabs and Muslims have higher incidents of such hate crimes, which likely reflects the availability of targets for this type of offending. At the same time, the likelihood of victimization for a given Arab or Muslim person is lowest in counties where the percent Arab or percent Muslim is highest, in line with a power-differential perspective on discrimination and intergroup violence. The findings imply that terrorist attacks may indeed incite retaliation and set off a wave of hate crime offending, but the location of these crimes is likely to remain consistent after a galvanizing event.

Self-Reported Inattention in Early Adolescence in a Community Sample

Objective : Inattention is typically associated with ADHD, but less research has been done to examine the correlates of self-reported inattention in youth in a community sample. Method: Associations among self-reported inattention, parent-reported inattention, and self-reported psychopathology in children aged 10 to 11 years are examined. Self-reported inattention is also examined as a predictor of outcomes in peer relationships and victimization at ages 10 and 11 and in peer relationships at ages 14 and 15. Results: Children’s self-reports of inattention correlate with parental reports and are associated with self-reports of hyperactivity-impulsivity, depression, anxiety, and conduct problems. Participants in the high-inattention group are at greater risk for victimization and poor peer relationships at ages 10 and 11 years after covarying for psychopathology ratings. Self-reported inattention uniquely predicts poor peer relationships longitudinally at age 14 and 15 years. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of examining children’s self-report of inattention and identifies inattention as a risk factor for current and later outcomes.

Innocence Lost: A Gender-Based Study of Parricide Offender, Victim, and Incident Characteristics in a National Sample, 1976–2003

ABSTRACT The act of parricide is one of the least understood and most underresearched acts of family violence. Work to date suggests adolescent parricide is often an extreme response to intolerable abuse. Drawing on Supplementary Homicide Reports (SHR) from 1976 to 2003, this work examines a large national sample of reported parricide incidents (N = 2,599) with an offender 21 years of age or younger. A gender-based study of offender, victim, and incident characteristics was undertaken using bivariate and multivariate techniques. Results suggest that incidents of parricide are decreasing over time. Offenses are predominantly intraracial with white male offenders peaking in late adolescence and white females peaking in mid-adolescence. White biological fathers are at greatest risk of victimization with girls significantly more likely than boys to kill a stepfather. Results both corroborate and contrast extant works, providing new baseline data and insight into this complex and dynamic crime.

Differentiating the Social Service Needs of Homeless Sexual Minority Youths from those of Non-homeless Sexual Minority Youths

While homeless youths and sexual minority youths are at greater risk for negative life experiences, and homeless sexual minority youths are at greater risk than homeless heterosexual youths, little is known about the differential risks for homeless sexual minority youths compared to non-homeless sexual minority youths. Using a sample of 187 sexual minority youths from a community-based social service agency in Denver, Colorado, the findings of this study suggest that homeless sexual minority youths are at greater risk for victimization, mental health issues, substance abuse, and illegal or dangerous activities than their non-homeless counterparts. Implications for social work practice and social service provision are discussed.