Indirect Victims Research Articles

Indirect victims of violence: Mental health and the close relatives of serious assault victims in England

An extensive body of evidence shows the impact of being the direct victim of a serious assault. However, much less is known about the impact on the family and close relatives of victims, who may be considered indirect victims. Based on analyses of the 2014 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, a face-to-face, cross-sectional probability-sample survey of 7519 adults aged 16 and over in England, this article estimates what proportion of the population was closely related to a victim of serious assault, and whether this experience was associated with a higher prevalence of feeling unsafe, depression and anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress, self-harm, and suicidality. Descriptive and multivariable regression analyses were conducted, adjusting for complex survey design and potentially confounding factors. Results show that one in twenty adults (4.5%, n = 345) was closely related to a victim of serious assault (95% confidence interval (CI):4.0–5.2%). Close adult relatives of assault victims were more likely than the rest of the population to have been direct victims of violence and abuse themselves, to have experienced multiple other adversities, and to live in more deprived neighbourhoods. However, even when controlling for these experiences, relatives of victims had adjusted odds of feeling unsafe in the neighbourhood where they lived 2.36 times higher than the rest of the population (CI:1.26–4.44), and their odds of having a depressive or anxiety disorder were 1.37 times higher (0.99–1.90). These analyses indicate that relatives in England may already be vulnerable, with potential to also be further affected by the experiences of family members. To more fully account for the effects of violence in society, research with indirect victims of serious violence in the context of their own experiences of direct victimization and wider adversities is required. This could be factored into a broader remit for victim support services which includes support for victims’ families.

Experience as a physician attending to traffic accident victims in hospitals in Managua, Nicaragua

Introduction: Every 23 seconds a person dies from a traffic accident in the world, that is about 3756 deaths per day, with the consequent impact on relatives and health personnel. Doctors are part of the health team that is on the front line of care. Although this is part of their daily work, their feelings and emotions are deeply affected. There is a deficit of research of this type carried out by doctors.Methodology: Qualitative study, under the constructivist paradigm with a phenomenological approach. The objective was; explore the lived experience of doctors who treat victims of traffic accidents. The sample was intentional with five participating physicians . The phenomenological interview was used as an information collection technique and analyses were carried out according to Van Manen.Results: From the analysis, 15 codes were obtained inductively, which gave rise to 6 sub-themes: Impacts of Tragedies; Communication of bad news; Becoming of emotion; Coping; Narratives that endure and Resignation that in turn made up the 3 central themes: Body Lived in the impact, Time Lived in the here and after and Human Relations lived: between narratives and resignation.Conclusion: The study reveals that doctors are indirect victims of adverse events in the face of damage to the patient and their family in the face of a traffic accident. Constant monitoring of their psychological and emotional well-being, training communication strategies and improving patient-centered curricular programs are recommended. Extending the study to other specialties would enrich this understanding..

Servicio de atención y acompañamiento emergente a víctimas de violencia en Salamanca, México (víctimas indirectas de desaparición, homicidio y feminicidio)

El artículo contiene un análisis del Servicio de Atención Emergente a Víctimas indirectas de homicidio, desaparición y feminicidio (SAAEV) desarrollado por el gobierno municipal de Salamanca, Guanajuato en México entre el año 2021 y 2024. Este programa es único a nivel municipal por los retos que impone a la administración pública. El objetivo es describir sus principales características, contexto de violencia donde surgió, perfil de los usuarios e identificación de sus principales problemas. La intención es someterlo a un grupo de investigadores expertos de la Red Internacional ALEC para proponer un conjunto de recomendaciones, asesoría y apoyo en la construcción de políticas públicas replicables con impacto social.

Structural Violence, Gender, and Post 9-11 Terrorism in Pakistan: Examining the Psychological Impact on the Parents of Army Public School attacks in Pakistan

This study seeks to explore the gender – specific impact of post-9/11 terrorismacts inPakistan, with a particular focus on the parents of the children killed in the terrorist attacks on Army Public School in Peshawar, in 2014. The paper dwells deep intoexploring how the parents have been impacted and examines the many ways by whichthe victims have devised coping strategies in response to traumatic events. This studyuses Galtung’s structural violence theory as a theoretical framework to examine the psychological impact on the parents, with structural violence in this context referring topost-9/11 terrorism acts in Pakistan. This study adopted a sequential exploratory design. By using a stratified random sampling technique, a total of 216 participants were selected, comprising 133 Direct Victims and 83 Indirect Victims. Data collectioninvolved a mixed method approach - both quantitative and qualitative analyses. Primarydata was collected through structured interviews and a standardized questionnaire called Lieber’s scale of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to measure the level of post-traumatic stress. Subsequent processing and tabulation followed by statistical examination to assess the psychological impact of post-9/11 terrorism in Peshawar. Finding indicates that the symptoms of PTSD were still evident among all participants even after nine years of terrorist attack. Participants who were directly exposed totrauma displayed more symptoms of psychological distress as compared to those whowere indirectly exposed. The results also indicate a surprising and rather significant development in gender focused research with male parents exhibiting significantly highlevel of PTSD in comparison to women victims. Observations from the primary data showing men demonstrating higher level of PTSD, brings interesting propositions togender research, where explorations around the social and psychological aspects of masculinity, and the multifaceted roles played by men around gender empowerment may prompt intriguing inquiries into gender research. Furthermore, it is recommendedthat future research must focus on factors that should not only identify the optimal timing for PTSD treatment, but also explore factors that can bring natural recovery. Moreover, the research also facilitates the policy recommendation for development work as well as those agencies including, the government, local and international aidorganizations working in the areas affected by violence.

Participation experiences of indirect victims of child sexual homicide in parole proceedings.

Few studies have examined victim participation in parole processes, particularly in countries that have specific procedures for hearing victims' statements in post-conviction proceedings. This study, through in-depth interviews, explores the experiences of seven indirect victims of child sexual homicide, identifying their needs and expectations in a justice system lacking formal mechanisms for their involvement. Results emphasize the necessity for official information for families and the consequent frustration from the absence of formal participation. Parole application becomes a new challenge to the ongoing grieving process, leading to distress responses that may require specialized care. Recommendations about formal mechanisms for victim notification, participation and support during the parole process are noted to acknowledge their experience and emotional impact.

The concept of rationalising damage and the scope of insurer’s liability

The concept of indirect violation of rights and interestsholds an important place in the system of liability for damages.Therefore, the analysis of that subject matter should focus not on whether the damage is compensable but on the basis and extent of compensation.The diversity of events that may give rise to an “indirect damage” does not make it easy to identify its prerequisites. On top of that, the actions taken do not go in pair with harmonisation of terminology and do not lead to the introduction of one consistent liability model. An answer to the doubts arising in context of compensating for “indirect damage” is the concept of rationalising damage. It covers a set of directives that serve to determine if a given detriment qualifies as “indirect damage” and if a given person is an indirect victim. Not all violations are compensable, but only violations to legally protected interests. As a result, compensation does not cover all inconveniences, or inconveniences forming a part of risk associated with everyday life. Determination of the scope of compensating for indirect damage has a significant impact on the scope of liability of the insurer.This is the case as the model of compensation for indirect violations should be “economically efficient. Keywords

Negative Aspects of Self-Imposed Evacuation among Mothers of Small Children Following Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Accident.

This study clarified the negative aspects of the self-imposed evacuation of mothers of small children seeking to avoid radiation exposure from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident on 11 March 2011. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 27 mothers, employing open-ended inquiries based on an interview guide. Our analysis of their responses using the Ka-Wakita-Jiro (KJ) method categorized the results into eight distinct groups comprising 142 labels. These categories included continued anxiety about the health effects of radiation, differences in risk perception, changes in spousal relationships, the inability to make friends and find support, living as a single parent, financial concerns, the unfamiliar feel of the area to which they evacuated, and uncertainty about the future. Despite their hardships, the mothers continued their self-imposed evacuation to avoid radioactivity. Our findings underscore that their anxieties about radiation exposure persisted even after self-imposed evacuation, leading to deteriorated relationships with key individuals who would have been involved in raising their children. These results offer valuable insights into the challenges experienced by the indirect victims of the nuclear accident, such as the mothers of small children.

Coping and emotions of global higher education students to the Ukraine war worldwide

Trauma scientists have raised the alarm about the devastating consequences of the Ukraine war on mental health. We examined how higher education students—as indirect victims—coped with this conflict and how they emotionally reacted during 2022. We involved 2314 students from 16 countries through an online survey. A structural equation model indicated significant relations between war-related worry about military and macroeconomics domains and two coping strategies (opposition, support giving), in turn significantly linked with six emotions. The model was strongly invariant across gender, study field, and geographic area. The most frequent emotions were anger and anxiety, followed by two future-centred emotions (hopelessness and hope). Emotions were more frequent for females and students of the countries geographically close to the war region. Our findings call for evidence-based policy recommendations to be implemented by institutions to combat the negative short and long-term psychological sequelae of being witnesses of armed conflicts.

Kazirodztwo w świetle przypadku badawczego

Aim: The aim of the article was to present the issue of violence taking place in the basic social group, which is the family, in the form of incestuous sexual relations. The development of criminal liability for a given crime was mentioned. Various penal codifications in Poland were taken into account, including the Penal Code of 1932 and 1969. The results obtained showed the practical legal classification of an event that meets the statutory criteria of the crime of incest. The presented text is intended to provide a deeper analysis of the discussed phenomenon. Methods: The individual case method and examination of documents, i.e. court files. Results: The issue of incest, which was analyzed in the above research case, allows for drawing conclusions in terms of criteria such as: explaining the essence of the crime specified in Art. 201 of the Penal Code, the legal characteristics of the prohibited act specified in Art. 201 of the Penal Code and a discussion of the consequences of incestuous sexual intercourse for the family, especially the child, and the forms of assistance. As a result of a thorough consideration of the case by one of the District Courts in Poland, it was necessary to change the legal classification of the act charged against the accused. It should be noted that the amendment to the Penal Code, introduced by the Act of November 5, 2009, extended the qualified type of rape to include rape of an ascendant, descendant, adoptee, brother or sister. When imposing a sentence on the accused, apart from the circumstances that were directly related to the crimes he committed, the court also took into account the fact that the accused did not understand his behavior and did not feel any remorse for it.Coclusion: The research presented in the article below constitutes a way of learning about the crime of incest, which not only allows for expanding knowledge on this subject, but also provides practical guidelines for the legal classification of an act that meets the statutory features of the prohibited act in question. From the point of view of a criminologist and a pedagogue, practice is an important point to perform one's profession correctly. The research constitutes a section of scientific research on: "criminal law and criminological characteristics of the crime of incest (Article 201 of the Penal Code). However, I think that this fragment can be a reason to reflect on the issue of incest and how effective help can be provided to children who are direct or indirect victims of incestuous sexual intercourse.Oryginality: both the research conducted and the content obtained from it, as well as the remaining content of the study based on current premises and legal acts. Keyword: violence, incest, family, safety, crime, sexual intercourse, research case

Vítimas indiretas dos homicídios: impactos; apoio recebido e estratégias de superação

Abstract Brazil has recorded a high percentage of homicides and deaths due to legal intervention. This article is part of a qualitative multiple case study about indirect victims who lost relatives to homicide perpetraded by security agents and police officers in Rio de Janeiro. Data were collected in four individual interviews with family members of people killed by police officers and three family members of police officers who were victims of homicide, and then subjected to thematic analysis. The testimonies revealed the major impacts of the loss of a family member on the indirect victim’s health, such as intense mental suffering and the negative impacts on human occupations such as work, leisure, health care, and sleep. Institutional support is limited in the face of the traumatic experience, whereas activist groups and entities tied to human rights advocacy are of great help in overcoming the pain of loss, especially for those who have lost their family members to the police. Further research is needed about the gaps between public facilities and policies and the needs of indirect victims.

Indirect victims of violence: a look at health impacts.

We sought to investigate the perceptions of indirect victims or family members of homicide victims, about the repercussions of these deaths on their health. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive study was carried out, based on eight semi-structured individual interviews with two groups: family members of police officers victimized by lethal violence, and family members of people killed as a result of police intervention, designated here as homicide. Both groups reported the perception that their health deteriorated after the homicide, and mentioned problems such as depression, panic disorder, insomnia, heart conditions and eating disorders. They also highlighted the acquisition of habits that are harmful to health, such as the consumption of alcoholic beverages, tobacco and self-medication, and the worsening of pre-existing health issues. It was observed that the homicide committed and suffered by police agents affects various aspects of the lives of indirect victims that are inseparable from health issues in a broader sense. These people are also victims of this violence, although their suffering is often made invisible. Studying this topic helps to give space to the suffering and mourning of these people and to subsidize the best performance of the institutions and services involved.

Vítimas indiretas da violência: um olhar sobre os impactos na saúde

Abstract We sought to investigate the perceptions of indirect victims or family members of homicide victims, about the repercussions of these deaths on their health. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive study was carried out, based on eight semi-structured individual interviews with two groups: family members of police officers victimized by lethal violence, and family members of people killed as a result of police intervention, designated here as homicide. Both groups reported the perception that their health deteriorated after the homicide, and mentioned problems such as depression, panic disorder, insomnia, heart conditions and eating disorders. They also highlighted the acquisition of habits that are harmful to health, such as the consumption of alcoholic beverages, tobacco and self-medication, and the worsening of pre-existing health issues. It was observed that the homicide committed and suffered by police agents affects various aspects of the lives of indirect victims that are inseparable from health issues in a broader sense. These people are also victims of this violence, although their suffering is often made invisible. Studying this topic helps to give space to the suffering and mourning of these people and to subsidize the best performance of the institutions and services involved.

La creatividad en la cobertura fotográfica de los problemas sociales: Entrevista a Jesse Mireles

Interview conducted with the photographer specialized in documentary f ilm and journalism, Jessica Mireles Quiñones in the context of her coverage of the social problems of Mexican and Zacatecan society. She shares how she approaches complex contexts derived from the violence due to the war against organized crime, the situations that indirect victims encompassed in the euphemism of "collateral damage", mothers searching for missing persons; go through; inhabitants violently displaced from their communities; childhoods with lives disrupted by stray bullets. Shares the alternatives that photography and the image in general of fer, to tell and transmit these hard stories, through a narrative that has scope and impact with the aim of contributing, to counteracting the problem through reflection, denaturalization and action against the different types of violence that have emerged from the State of Mexico’s f ight against organized crime groups, and the dispute that they maintain throughout the national and state territory. She also talks about her beginnings in the world of photography and how it has been useful to her, in addition to a therapeutic activity, as a way to transmit her ideological position and the way she understands the world.

Growing up in the shadow of domestic violence: Evidence from register data

AbstractChildren who are indirect victims of domestic violence can exhibit the same negative outcomes as children who are direct victims. This study investigated the consequences of children's exposure to domestic violence among parents on a range of children's outcomes: mental health, well‐being, school performance and placement in out‐of‐home care. We used administrative records from full population cohorts of children in Denmark (N = 399 519, born 1997–2003). We examined a target group of children exposed to domestic violence and a comparison group not exposed to it, both groups having similar personal and family backgrounds, including pre‐birth history of family domestic violence. To construct the comparison group, we used propensity score matching. Exposure to domestic violence had a substantial negative impact on academic performance (age 9–15), self‐reported well‐being in school (age 10–15) and also increased the likelihood of being placed in out‐of‐home care (age 9–15) and being diagnosed with post‐traumatic stress disorder (age 9–15). The discounted additional cost (medical and child welfare system) per child indirectly experiencing domestic violence was at least $31 000 (age 0–15). Thus, our results show important adverse effects and suggest that earlier prevention and more preventive social interventions could help reduce the long‐term consequences of childhood exposure to domestic violence.

National Survey of Victimization: Another Trend-Crime Mapping Tools

The concept of the "dark figure" refers to the discrepancy between the actual occurrence of criminal activities and the quantity of reported incidents received by the criminal justice system, particularly law enforcement agencies. The term "dark figure of crime" pertains to unreported criminal incidents that are not captured inside the criminal justice system. Inclusion of these unreported crimes in official crime statistics would result in a significant amplification of the overall crime figures. To address the disparity between police records, namely police crime statistics, and the actual occurrence of crimes, many regions have initiated efforts to incorporate victims as the focal point of their investigations. In Indonesia, surveys of victims are generally carried out by private groups, and relate to certain types of crimes. The hesitancy exhibited by victims in reporting their experiences might provide challenges for law enforcement officials in their efforts to uphold societal stability. Victim surveys can extend beyond individuals who have directly experienced crime, encompassing tertiary victims (i.e., indirect victims) who harbour concerns about potential victimisation. Victim surveys can also be utilised to examine victims' perspectives within the complex framework of the criminal justice system, particularly in cases involving many victimisation incidents. Keywords: crime, survey, victims

Стресс от невидимых информационных угроз и его последствия

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Relevance.</strong> In recent years, studies have accumulated a lot of factual material on the psychological consequences of stress caused by exposure to aggressive environmental factors, including the COVID–19 virus threat factor. In this connection, the task of generalizing and rethinking the role of information threats in the development of psychopathological symptoms in the general population becomes obvious. <strong>Goal.</strong> The work is devoted to the theoretical and empirical analysis of the psychological consequences of experiencing invisible information threats (viral and radiation threats, the threat of a life–threatening disease, a terrorist threat to indirect victims, emotional violence). <strong>Materials and methods:</strong> the total sample size for assessing the experience of the COVID–19 virus threat is 712 respondents interviewed in two time periods (from April to May 2020, from October 2021 to May 2022). Empirical data of a cross–cultural project on the study of PTSD in the liquidators of the Chernobyl accident 1992–1994 are also used. laboratories of psychology of post–traumatic stress of the IP RAS under the leadership of N.V. Tarabrina and the psychophysiological laboratory of Harvard Medical School (USA), headed by Professor R. Pitman. To assess the experience of a terrorist threat, empirical data from a 2007 dissertation study Bykhovets Yu.V. Test battery: a questionnaire on the experience of a viral threat, SCL–90–R, PCL–5, SHVS–10, a questionnaire on the prescription and intensity of the disease COVID–19 are used. <strong>Results.</strong> The dynamics of the psychological state of the population during the COVID–19 pandemic (2020 - 2022) is described. A comparative analysis of the severity of psychopathological symptoms in the liquidators of the Chernobyl accident, indirect victims of terrorist attacks and COVID–19 respondents who were ill/not ill is presented. A comparative analysis of the severity of delayed symptoms, in particular post–traumatic stress disorder, showed that 19,7 % of the liquidators of the Chernobyl accident were diagnosed with PTSD, 24 % of indirect victims of terrorist attacks and 7,25% of people who had Covid–19. <strong>Conclusions.</strong> According to the study, it can be concluded that the psychological consequences of a collision with invisible information threats are represented by a wide range of negative affectivity, which proves the possibility of attributing these stressors to high–intensity stressors.</p>

Actio directa and Indirect Consequences of Damage in the Conflict-of-law Perspective

The problems of indirect victims are considered in many European and non-European jurisdictions because of the fact that the traditional doctrine of compensating damage is based on the directly injured person. The question of determining the law applicable to civil law liability for human death in cross-border matters becomes all the more crucial. In this context, special attention should be paid to the judgment of the Court of Justice of 10 December 2015, C-350/14, Florin Lazar v. Allianz SpA, in which it was concluded that the law applicable in such situations is the law of the country where the direct damage occurred and was suffered by the directly injured party. In addition, claims for damages formulated by indirectly injured persons require analysis in the context of their assertion directly against the insurer of the person responsible for the damage (actio directa).

Violation of the standards of international humanitarian law in the conditions of russian armed aggression

The article addresses the issue of the ineffectiveness of norms of international humanitarian law during modern armed conflicts, the content of certain norms of the Geneva Conventions with the aim of improving the international legal regulation of the status of victims of armed conflicts. An analysis of international legal acts and national acts adopted in Ukraine after the introduction of martial law in Ukraine, which are aimed at improving the status of victims of the armed conflict, has been carried out. Attention is drawn to the fact that the russian-Ukrainian war qualifies as an international armed conflict, in which, in accordance with the norms of international humanitarian law, the combatants are given the status of prisoners of war. At the same time, russia grants them the status of “persons opposing a special military operation” without guaranteeing the protection of the rights of prisoners of war, does not distinguish the status of civilians in an armed conflict, which is a significant violation of the norms of international humanitarian law. It is proposed to adopt the conventional norms of international humanitarian law in terms of regulating the exchange of prisoners of war.Different definitions that denote certain vulnerable categories of the civilian population during an armed conflict are analyzed in relation to the definition of “indirect victims of an armed conflict”. Proposals for the creation of a coordinating body that would take care of the issues of indirect victims of the armed conflict, the development of an effective compensation mechanism for destroyed or damaged property during armed aggression, and the determination of the legal status of persons who have been deprived of personal freedom as a result of armed aggression against Ukraine are supported. Today, international and national legislation is clear on the appointment - who should be taken into account by the persons who suffered in the wake of the violent aggression. It is concluded that the norms of international humanitarian law need to be updated and revised for their future observance and implementation by all subjects of international law.

The emotional fallout of armed conflict in Colombia: Emotions, empathy, and aggression in victims, indirect victims, and members of the military.

The emotional fallout of armed conflict in Colombia: Emotions, empathy, and aggression in victims, indirect victims, and members of the military.

The 1984 anti-Sikh pogroms: Phenomenological experiences and perceptions of direct and indirect victims of violence

ABSTRACT Previous literature explores the socio-political contours of Hindu-Muslim violence, with limited attention given to the experiences of victims and the Hindu-Sikh inter-communal relationships. This study specifically examines the 1984 Anti-Sikh pogrom, employing a phenomenological approach to gather insights from Sikh participants who were direct or indirect victims of the violence and aged 20–40 at the time. The findings underscore significant experiences such as the fear of survival, betrayal, and reaction inhibition amidst hostility during the pogrom. Presently, the victims continue to grapple with a sense of loss, hopelessness concerning justice, and a lack of trust in the Hindu community.