Rates Of Victimization Research Articles

Issues Associated With the Formulation of a Small Area Model for Estimation of State-Level Crime Victimization Rates

Subnational estimation is an important and challenging problem in the context of the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). Direct estimates for subnational domains are often unreliable due to small sample sizes. Model-based procedures have potential to improve upon direct estimators. However, model-based estimation presents several new challenges. One must identify suitable covariates, and an appropriate model form must be specified. This article discusses issues associated with the formulation of a small area model for production of state-level estimates of crime victimization rates. An analysis of direct estimates and covariates motivates the development of a Bayesian multivariate model. A model in the original scale is compared to a model in the log scale. Efficiency gains from the model relative to the direct estimators are examined. One challenge is that direct estimates can equal zero. Two ways of handling zero direct estimates are discussed.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) among sexual minority men (SMM) during the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review and a call for research

There is a dearth of literature documenting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization among sexual minority men (SMM). This review examines studies conducted since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the experiences and changes in IPV experiences among SMM. We conducted a comprehensive search, and article screening and selection adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Only 7 studies were identified and met the eligibility, all of which utilized cross-sectional design. Studies were conducted in the U.S (n = 4), Spain (n = 1), China (n = 1), and a study using global samples (n = 1). Measurements and assessment tools for IPV victimization vary across these studies. SMM were observed to experience a relatively high rate of IPV victimization, and some reported experiencing more severe and frequent IPV victimization since the pandemic. IPV victimization was associated with multilevel factors such as younger age, substance use, mental illness, economic and structural vulnerabilities. None of the studies had examined the impact of the pandemic on help-seeking. There is a need to explore the long-term effects of the ongoing pandemic on IPV victimization among this vulnerable population. Developing safe intervention strategies and ensuring confidential access to health and supportive services are particularly urged.

Longitudinal association between adolescent sexual identity and sleep quality: The mediating roles of peer victimization and perceived social support

ObjectiveDespite growing evidence of disparities in sleep quality between sexual minoritized and heterosexual youth, the reasons for these disparities are not well understood. LGBQ+ adolescents often experience challenging peer relationships, which could negatively impact their sleep quality. The current study examined the prospective relationship between sexual minority status and sleep quality over 12months and evaluated whether peer victimization and social support at 6months mediated this relationship among adolescents. MethodsThis study involved a secondary analysis of data from a community sample of 800 adolescents (57.5% female; Mage=14.42years, SD=0.83). Data were collected using web-based surveys over 12months with three time-points: baseline, 6-, and 12-month. ResultsApproximately 19.4% of adolescents self-identified as LGBQ+. Compared to heterosexual adolescents, LGBQ+ adolescents reported poorer global sleep quality, lower perceived social support, greater peer victimization, childhood victimization, and were more likely to be female (all ps < .001). In a longitudinal, parallel mediation analysis adjusting for baseline age, gender, global sleep quality, and childhood victimization, LGBQ+ adolescents reported higher rates of peer victimization (b=0.262 [0.049], p < .001) and less social support (b=−0.385 [0.146], p = .008) at 6months compared with heterosexual peers, predicting poor global sleep quality (b=0.495 [0.191], p = .010 for peer victimization and b=−0.161 [0.068], p = .018 for social support) at 12months. ConclusionThese findings highlight that sexual minority adolescents face increased risks of peer victimization and reduced social support from peers, which contribute to poorer sleep quality. The findings may guide the development of adolescent sleep interventions that also improve social health and relationships.

Prevalence of gun carrying and gun violence victimization and perpetration among a nationally representative sample of US youth and young adults

IntroductionGuns were one of the leading cause of death in children and youth 0 to 24 years old in the US over the last decade, with large variations by gender, race, region and income. This paper examines rates of gun involvement for a group of youth and young adults in the US from ages 10-34 across major demographic and background factors. MethodsA cross-sectional nationally representative survey of participants recruited through an ongoing national research panel. Completed surveys were collected from 5,311 participants from September 2023 to January 2024. ResultsLifetime rates for carrying guns was 26.7%, gun violence victimization rates was 9.5% and gun violence perpetration rates was 3.3%. High levels of past year involvement with guns and gun violence were observed, with 13.9% carrying guns, gun violence victimization of 2.5% and gun violence perpetration of 0.9%. Even more concerning, data indicate that 7.6% of the participants reported carrying a gun before age 18, 5.2% experienced gun violence victimization, and 1.8% perpetrated gun violence. Gun carrying/violence was higher by demographics, with a statistically significant difference for all demographic subgroups on at least one gun outcome. ConclusionsHigh levels of exposure to guns and gun violence are experienced among a nationally representative population of young Americans, with rates varying considerably by demographic factors. Based on these demographic disparities in gun involvement, more work is needed to address community and other risk and protective factors across different levels of the social ecology, such as structural inequities, associated with gun violence.

Unveiling the Gender Symmetry Debate: Exploring Consequences, Instructions, and Forms of Violence in Intimate Partner Violence.

Official statistics and data from police and judicial systems consistently show that intimate partner violence (IPV) is a worldwide problem predominantly affecting women perpetrated by male partners. Yet, certain behavioral checklists yield similar IPV rates for both genders, sparking the gender symmetry/asymmetry debate. Some possible explanations for this discrepancy reside in (a) considering or not the consequences of violence, (b) possible inadequacies of the instructions given to participants when answering checklists, and (c) considering or not certain behaviors typically asymmetrical (e.g., economic violence). In order to test these three hypotheses, we conducted two studies in the Spanish context using the Partner Victimization Scale (PVS). In Study 1, participants (n = 449) answered a Spanish version of the PVS (with the instructions "Not including horseplay or joking around") and reported consequences of violence on their self-esteem and health. In Study 2 (n = 172), we experimentally manipulated the instructions given to participants when answering the PVS (including those of Study 1 or not) and also added some items of typically asymmetrical violence. Other measures of consequences of violence were assessed. Results of Study 1 replicated the original PVSs factor structure and showed gender asymmetry (more female than male victimization) in four of five items, and the victimization rates were related to consequences of violence, providing construct validity to this version of the scale. Results of Study 2 underlined the relevance of the instructions and of the addition of certain types of violence in the symmetry/asymmetry rates informed. Additionally, the IPV reported was associated with worse consequences for women than for men. Our findings suggest that the detection of IPV increases when the instructions are clarified, when certain items are added, and when the consequences of IPV are considered.

State-level structural sexism and adolescent sexual violence victimization in the US

BackgroundAdolescent sexual violence victimization is a significant public health issue in the United States. Structural sexism, a form of gender inequality at the societal level, may play a crucial role in influencing the prevalence of sexual violence victimization among adolescents. ObjectiveThis study aims to examine the association between state-level structural sexism and sexual violence victimization among adolescents and to explore how this relationship varies between male and female adolescents. Participants and settingData was derived from a nationally representative sample of high school students in grades 9–12 across the United States who participated in the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBS) in 2017 and 2019. MethodsA state-level structural sexism index was created from nine different items to reflect the multidimensional nature of structural sexism. This study employs multi-level regression analysis to investigate the impact of state-level structural sexism on three types of sexual violence victimization: sexual violence, sexual dating violence, and physical dating violence. ResultsThis study revealed a significant interaction between structural sexism and gender. In states with higher levels of structural sexism, female adolescents reported increased likelihood of sexual violence (β = 0.013, p < .001), sexual dating violence (β = 0.006, p < .001), and physical dating violence (β = 0.006, p < .001) compared to males. Conversely, male adolescents in these states reported lower rates of victimization. ConclusionsThe results underscore the role of structural sexism in influencing sexual violence victimization among adolescents. Addressing structural sexism may be essential in mitigating the risk of sexual violence victimization, especially for female adolescents.

Assessing the Reversed Gender Gap in the Swedish Crime Survey: Reasons Why Young Women Report Higher Victimization Rates Than Young Men During the Period 2009 to 2016

Self-reported victimization among young women in the Swedish Crime Survey increased during the early- to mid-2010s, resulting in a gender gap, with young women reporting 10% to 15% higher victimization rates than young men. In this study, we use multi-group confirmatory factor analysis to assess whether the increase in victimization rates is due to declines in measurement equivalence across different cohorts of young women during the period 2009 to 2016. The results show cohort differences in how young women interpret the victimization items in the Swedish Crime Survey, especially with regard to the item about sexual victimization. The results show that the increasing victimization rates are likely the result of changes in perceptions about sexual offences, rather than an actual increase.

Exploring the impact of cyber and traditional crime victimization: Impact comparisons and explanatory factors

As cybercrime victimization rates continue to rise, our understanding of their impact, especially compared to traditional crime, remains limited. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted surveys among 910 crime victims, measuring the impact of cyber and traditional variants of property, person-centered, and sexual crime. We compared the impact of: (1) residential burglary and hacking of online bank accounts; (2) doorstep deception and bank helpdesk fraud; (3) in-person threats and online threats; and (4) sexual assault and image-based sexual abuse. Impact was categorized into peritraumatic stress, internalizing problems, externalizing problems, financial impact, and damaged self-image. Our findings reveal that cybercrime impact mostly equals or exceeds that of traditional crimes. Disparities especially emerge in terms of higher peritraumatic stress experienced by victims of cyber property crime, and more damage to self-image suffered by victims of both cyber property and cyber sexual crimes. Furthermore, we identified significant determinants of victim impact among crime characteristics, and social, personal, and demographic factors, some varying between cyber and traditional crime. Our study emphasizes the implications of the technological nature of cybercrime and the relatively active role played by cybercrime victims, while also considering the issue of victim blaming. Furthermore, we underscore the need for targeted victim support and prioritization of cybercrime.

Child Sexual Abuse and Boundary Violating Behaviors in Youth Serving Organizations: National Prevalence and Distribution by Organizational Type.

Many youth serving organizations (YSOs) implement child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention strategies. We examined the potential impact of those strategies by retrospectively estimating the prevalence of CSA and boundary violating behaviors experienced in five broad organizational settings: organized sports, religious organizations, music or arts programs, K-12 schools, and the "Big 6 settings" (i.e., 4-H, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the USA, and the YMCA of the USA). We compared victimization rates between nationally representative cohorts of younger adults (age 18-22; N = 3174) and slightly older adults (age 32-36, N = 3237). Across all participants and settings, 3.75% (n = 363) experienced CSA in YSOs. Among survivors, younger adults reported experiencing a lower proportion of CSA within Big 6 settings than older adults (29.1% vs. 44.5%; p < .05), suggesting that prevention efforts may be having the desired effects in Big 6 settings.

Characteristics and Consequences of Violent Victimization in Sexual and Gender Minority Communities: An Analysis of the 2017-2021 National Crime Victimization Survey.

Purpose: This article investigates rates of violent victimization, subsequent help-seeking, and health-related consequences within sexual and gender minority (SGM) communities. Methods: Aggregate data from the 2017-2021 National Crime Victimization Survey were examined to determine nationally representative estimates of rates and distributions of violent victimization, help-seeking, and socioemotional consequences within those 16 years of age and older. Due to sample size, most analyses aggregated sexual orientation and gender identity to allow comparison of SGM persons to non-SGM persons and examine differences within the SGM population. Results: Persons who identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual experienced violent victimization at rates two to six times higher than straight persons. Transgender persons were victimized more than three times as often than cisgender persons. SGM persons experienced higher rates of all types of violent victimization than non-SGM persons regardless of victim-offender relationship. There were differences by victim demographic characteristics, including sex, race and Hispanic origin, age, marital status, and household income. A higher proportion of SGM victims reported only problems with work/school or problems both at work/school and with family/friends. Finally, higher proportions of SGM victims reported socioemotional consequences when they were female, older, or experienced serious violent crime. Conclusion: The findings in this study continue to highlight high levels of violence experienced by SGM persons and disproportionate socioemotional consequences. There is an evident need to develop targeted interventions and provide services to address the consequences of victimization among this population. The analyses demonstrate the necessity of continued research to better understand the impact of violence on SGM communities.

Social and policy characteristics associated with injurious shootings by police in US counties: A multilevel analysis, 2015-2020.

From 2015 to 2020, shootings by police injured or killed 1769 people annually in the United States, disproportionately harming members of minoritized groups. Prior studies of the structural determinants of these inequities have largely examined state-level aggregations and fatal outcomes. This study aimed to: 1) describe state and county variation in fatal and nonfatal injurious shootings by police, and 2) analyze the relationship between state and county context and differences in county rates of injurious shootings by police. Injury data were developed from manual review of incidents listed in the Gun Violence Archive, then aggregated by county-year. Covariate selection was informed by theories of police use of force and the Social Basis of Disparities in Health conceptual framework. Fixed effects negative binomial regression models were estimated, nesting years within counties and states. Analyses controlled for county population, local reporting presence, and multiple measures of social conflict and community violence. From 2015 to 2020, 56% of counties experienced injurious shootings by police. Higher county rates of victimization were associated with greater state spending on police relative to health, county income inequality, prevalence of unmet substance use disorder needs, higher county firearm availability, and permitless concealed carry statutes. Firearm purchaser licensing polices were associated with lower incidence of injurious shootings by police. To prevent patterns of injurious shootings by police, policymakers should consider addressing undermanaged substance use disorder through crisis fund allocation and use, adopting stronger firearm licensing systems, and evaluating local strategies to combat inequities and strengthen non-policing responses to social needs.

Impressive Factors of the Victimization of Shiite Muslim Minorities in Afghanistan: A Case Study District 13 of Kabul during the Pre-Taliban Period.

Shiite Muslims are one of the most influential ethnic minorities in Afghanistan. It appears that they are more victims of violence than other population groups in Afghanistan. On the other hand, the victimization rate in society is one of the most critical issues in criminology. Being victimized can lead to property loss, psychological trauma, and even death. Sensitive ethnic minorities are particularly pronounced in these challenges, especially in traditional societies such as Afghanistan. Therefore, the victimization rate and its influential factors among Shiite Muslims in Afghanistan need to be carefully analyzed. This is a survey study whose statistical population includes all residents of District 13 of Kabul, 285 of whom were selected using a structured questionnaire designed by the researcher and a multistage cluster sampling method. In addition, a multiple-choice Likert scale was used to measure the dependent and independent variables. The study's results indicate that more than 75% of the respondents and, in the past 5 years, more than 80% of their friends and family members have been victimized. In addition, respondents reported that the overall average probability of victimization over the next 10 years is 3.41 (the probability rate ranged from a minimum of 1 to a maximum of 5). Women were more likely to be victimized than men, with average victimization rates of 1.38 and 1.24, respectively (the probability rate ranged from a minimum of 1 to a maximum of 2). There was also a significant positive correlation between victimization and other variables such as age, gender, marital status, education level, and economic status.

The Temporal Pattern of Repeat Intimate Partner Violence Incidents Among High-Risk Survivors in Taiwan: A Survival Analysis.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is rarely an isolated incident, with survivors often experiencing repeat violence. Few studies, however, have been conducted to investigate the temporal pattern of IPV revictimization using a validated risk assessment instrument. In Taiwan, service professionals are mandated to report any known IPV incidents using the Taiwan Intimate Partner Violence Danger Assessment (TIPVDA), a validated risk assessment designed to assess the level of lethality faced by IPV survivors. The mandatory reporting policy and the universal use of the TIPVDA provide a unique opportunity to investigate the time course of repeat IPV victimization. This study analyzes high-risk IPV incidents (n = 18,740) reported in Taiwan from 2017 to 2019 using Cox regression analysis. Analysis results suggested three main findings: (a) The time interval between IPV victimizations shortened and the severity of violence increased; (b) the TIPVDA score was consistently associated with repeat victimization, unlike self-assessed dangerousness; (c) specific TIPVDA items, such as IPV history and financial stress, predicted the rate of repeat victimization. Those who reported ever being hurt by their partner during pregnancy, an escalation in physical violence during the past year, their partner threatening to kill them, and their partner being stressed about their financial situation were likely to have a faster rate of reporting the second and third high-risk victimization reports. These findings highlight the importance of using validated risk assessments in practice, not only for predicting reassault, severe reassault, or homicide but also for estimating the timing of revictimization. This can significantly inform intervention strategies and policy decisions.

Bullying-related victimization and delinquency: mediation by negative emotions and moderation by LGBTQ+ identity

ABSTRACT While previous research has examined the extent to which bullying victimization relates to delinquency via negative emotions, few studies have considered how this process may vary by subgroups of the population. Moreover, studies have yet to consider specifically how these processes may vary among youth who identify and LGBTQ+, an at-risk group who experiences higher rates of bullying victimization and higher rates of negative emotions than others. This study uses data from the Technology, Teen Dating Violence and Abuse, and Bullying in Three States, 2011–2012 survey (N = 4,776) to test if relationships between bullying-related victimization and delinquency are mediated by negative emotions, and if the mediation processes are moderated by LGBTQ+ identity. Results show that relationships between bullying-related victimization and both general delinquency and substance use are largely mediated by anger. Results further show that the effect of bullying-related victimization on depression and anxiety is stronger for youth who identify as LGBTQ+ compared to youth who identify as heterosexual and cisgender, but the effects of bullying-related victimization and negative emotions on general delinquency and substance use do not vary by LGBTQ+ identity.

Unveiling Sexting’s Dark Side: Exploring the Psychological and Childhood Correlates of Coercive Sexting

Sexting has become an increasingly popular sexual behaviour, and with this, sexting coercion has become a new form of sexual victimization. Archival data from an anonymized community sample (18-30 years old), previously collected for a study related to consensual and unsolicited sexting was used for the current study. Approximately 1 in 4 participants (29%; 816/2812; Nwomen = 569, Nmen = 184) reported being pressured or threatened into sexting. Odds ratio analyses were used to assess psychological and childhood correlates of coercive sexting. Results found that gender (OR = .262, p &lt; .001, 95% CI [.215, .320]), higher reported peer pressure (OR = 1.508, p &lt; .001, 95% CI [1.402, 1.623]), and increased familial instability during childhood (OR = 3.378, p &lt; .001, 95% CI [2.176, 5.245]) were significant correlates for experiencing coercive sexting. The current findings will help inform educational materials and prevention efforts to decrease rates of sexting victimization.

The androgen receptor gene and criminal offending: Evidence derived from international data

Beginning early in fetal development, the androgen receptor (AR) gene helps regulate bodily exposure to testosterone. Most studies of individuals have found an inverse correlation between the number of CAG repeats on this gene and serious forms of physical aggression. This two-phased study was primarily undertaken to determine if a link between AR CAGn and physical aggression also exists at an ecological level of analysis. To make this assessment, we first conducted a bivariate analysis of the average number of AR CAG repeats for a large number of countries and the rates of crime victimization in those same countries. Except for motor vehicle theft, as the national average number of CAG repeats increased, crime victimization rates decreased. This inverse relationship was especially strong for violent offenses. In the second phase of this study, we sought to determine if per capita gross domestic product, pathogen prevalence, and average intelligence might be mediating some of the AR CAG repeats-criminality relationship. Mediation analysis analysis indicated that, once gross domestic product and pathogenic prevalence were controlled, average intelligence was able to eliminate most of the links between CAG repeats and crime victimization rates, especially in the case of violent offenses. These findings suggest that the AR gene is not influencing criminality primarily by altering testosterone brain exposure (as we suspected). Instead, it may affect criminality mainly by affecting cognitive ability. In fact, once average national intelligence is included in the mediation analysis model, direct relationships between CAG repeats and measures of homicide, assault, and robbery were no longer statistically significant. Findings from this two-phased study point toward the AR gene as having multiple effects on brain functioning, particularly regarding intellectual development as hypothesized by Manning [62]. Replication is obviously needed.

How Effective Are the Post-9/11 U.S. Counterterrorism Policies Within and Outside the United States?

This study examined the effectiveness of post-9/11 U.S. counterterrorism policies in preventing terror attacks and reducing casualties against American targets within and outside the United States. Monthly data on terrorism incidents from July 1981 through December 2020 were obtained from the Global Terrorism Database ( N = 462). The results of monthly interrupted time-series analyses showed that within the United States, after the 9/11 attacks, the number of attacks, the number of successful attacks, and the successful attack rate statistically significantly decreased in the first month following 9/11; then, no significant increase was observed in the trend of those outcomes. Outside the United States, after the 9/11 attacks, the trend of the number of successful attacks, the number of victims, the number of nonfatal victims, and the victim rate statistically significantly decreased. The results suggest that post-9/11 U.S. counterterrorism policies are effective both domestically and internationally. These findings and their policy implications are discussed.

Suicidal Ideation and Behaviors Among LGBTQ+ Adolescents and Young Adults Who Have Experienced Sexual Violence: A Scoping Review of the Literature.

The relationship between sexual violence (SV) experiences and suicidal ideation (SI) is known. However, when applied to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and more (LGBTQ+) populations, the impact that experiences with SV have on the severity and magnitude of SI continues to be explored. A scoping review of the literature was conducted to summarize the current literature related to SI experienced by LGBTQ+ adolescents and young adults (AYAs) who have experienced SV. Studies were found by searching electronic databases. To be included in the review, the study must have (a) been written in the English language, (b) been conducted in the United States, (c) presented empirical data, (d) been exclusively focused on LGBTQ+ AYAs, (e) focused on experiences with SV or have analyses separate from other types of violence, and (f) investigated suicidality as an outcome. All relevant studies published to date were included. Forty-one articles were retrieved for full-text review, of which five were determined to meet eligibility. LGBTQ+ AYAs were significantly associated with increased rates of SI compared with their cisgender heterosexual peers. LGBTQ+ AYAs were also associated with higher rates of SV victimization, ranging from intimate partner violence to previous child sexual abuse. Higher rates of depression were also associated with the population studied in each included article. The relationship between SV and SI in this population is not well studied, as highlighted through this completed review. Targeting this knowledge gap through future research can lead to intervention development for this population niche.

Criminalizing Abuse, Neglect, and Financial Exploitation of Older Adults

The criminalization of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of older adults did not begin until the late 1990s in the United States. During this time, a number of states enacted laws criminalizing certain abusive and exploitive behaviors committed against older adults and added punishment enhancements to existing laws if victims were over a certain age. These laws and policies, and the impetus for them, mirrored those enacted decades prior as part of the child welfare movement, with connections drawn between the vulnerability of younger and older victims. Despite passage of these various abuse and exploitation laws for older adults, significant challenges remain in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of crimes committed against this population. Further, the population of older adults has been rapidly expanding along with rates of victimization, elevating the importance of this escalating social problem. This paper identifies limitations in the prior research by describing the past, present, and likely future of U.S. law and policy intended to effectively respond to crimes against older adults and concludes with a research and policy agenda.

Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence: Victimization and Risk Factors

Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence (TFSV) has been a permanent concern in contemporary society. This study aims to provide a global understanding of the TFSV phenomenon in Portuguese context. Using quantitative analyses, the rate and prevalence of victimization, victim characteristics, and technology use were examined. An online questionnaire was completed by 500 people (75.8% female) aged 18–70, mostly cisgender (96.2%), and heterosexual (85.8%). The main results point to a high victimization global rate (72%) as well as in the last 12 months (70.8%). There were no significant differences between the sexes except in sexual aggression/coercion, with more females suffering the more severe type of TFSV. However, the gendering of TFSV emerges with specific behaviors. Females tend to be more sexually harassed, only females report non-consensual sexual experiences with someone they met online, and males tend to report receiving offensive content about their gender/sexuality. Younger people tend to report a higher rate of victimization. The regression model with only victim characteristics is more predictive of TFSV victimization, with younger and heterosexual victims as significant predictors. This study argues that the culture of harassment is deeply rooted and finds an easy way to be disseminated in the digital world.