Risk Of Revictimization Research Articles

Vulnerability Factors of Intimate Partner Violence Among Victims of Partner Only and Generally Violent Perpetrators

PurposeThe aim of this study was to examine how victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) differ in terms of vulnerability factors and risk of being re-victimized, by comparing victims of the two most consistently identified IPV male perpetrator subtypes: the Partner Only (PO) violent and the Generally Violent (GV).MethodsThe current study analyzed IPV reported to the Swedish police and consisted of a sample of 1479 cases of male-to-female perpetrated IPV. The material mainly consisted of IPV risk assessments conducted by the police.ResultsThe results showed that vulnerability factors were significantly more common among victims of GV perpetrators, including inconsistent attitudes or behaviors, extreme fear of the perpetrator, inadequate support or resources, an unsafe living situation, and health problems. Moreover, victims of GV perpetrators were generally assessed by the police with a significantly higher risk of being re-victimized by IPV. Finally, in relation to the victim vulnerability factors most strongly associated with an elevated assessed risk for IPV re-victimization, the presence of extreme fear of the perpetrator and having an unsafe living situation were significantly related to such outcomes for both groups of victims.ConclusionIn sum, the results of this study contribute to the scant body of knowledge on IPV victim subtypes and their vulnerability profiles. In addition to facilitating the risk assessment of repeated IPV, such knowledge could also indicate what type of support different victim subtypes require in order to prevent IPV.

Preventing Revictimization Through a Web-Based Intervention for Primary Caregivers of Youth in Care (EMPOWERYOU): Protocol for a Randomized Factorial Trial.

Children in foster care are at a higher risk for relationship problems than their counterparts raised by their biological family because of higher exposure to or prevalence of neglect or maltreatment early in life. Consequently, these children may also show more challenging behavior in their foster families, which in turn increases the parental stress experience of foster caregivers. Furthermore, the children may engage in a vicious cycle of risky relationship behaviors and expectations that put them at a greater risk for revictimization. To support foster caregivers in reducing the risk for revictimization, several intervention modules delivered via the internet were developed using a consumer-based approach (phase 1 of the multiphase optimization strategy). This project (phase 2 of the multiphase optimization strategy) aimed to develop a sustainable intervention by selecting promising intervention components based on their contribution to the outcome. In a 24 factorial trial, a total of 317 foster caregivers with children aged 8 to 13 years are randomly assigned to 1 of 16 conditions. The primary outcome is the rate of revictimization from baseline to 3 months after intervention. Secondary outcomes include risk-taking and functional behaviors in relationships. All caregivers will receive access to all the intervention components after the follow-up assessment. The participants assigned to the condition with all component levels on are expected to show the best improvement in the primary and secondary outcomes. Recruitment and data collection for the factorial trial started in March 2022 and is ongoing. As of October 2022, we recruited 181 families. Although it is difficult to predict the exact study timeline owing to COVID-19 pandemic-related delays, results are expected in February 2024. There is a need for easily accessible information related to raising children in foster care who have experienced early life adversities to interrupt the cycle of violence and enhance the developmental pathway of health and emotional stability. It might be useful, in addition to generally useful parenting information (eg, parental self-care or emotion regulation management), to specifically focus on the needs of these caregivers (eg, how to support the child to reduce dysfunctional relationship behaviors that may have developed because of early adverse experiences). ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05235659; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05235659. DERR1-10.2196/38183.

Comics and the Colombian Peace Process: Neoliberal Discourse and the Risk of Revictimization of Displaced Peasants

This article explores how two comics published by Colombia’s National Center for Historical Memory engage with the ongoing peace process by promoting a neoliberal discourse. It argues that these comics are examples of narratives that focus on economic productivity to justify the peace process and restitution of lands. First, it shows how comics participate in the construction of collective memories. Second, based on critical discourse studies, it analyses the comics to trace the signs of the greater economic discourse. Finally, it underlies certain dangers of relying on this discourse to legitimize the peace process in Colombia.

The Role of Dimensions of Emotion Dysregulation Following Exposure to Maltreatment and Adult Victimization.

Child maltreatment is related to a host of negative consequences, including difficulties with emotion regulation (ER), posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), and greater risk for revictimization. Yet, the literature has largely focused on sexual revictimization, while relations between maltreatment and other adult victimization types (e.g., intimate partner violence [IPV]) are less clear. Further, associations between emotion dysregulation and both child and adult trauma exposure have been identified, but aspects of dysregulation (i.e., nonacceptance of emotional responses, difficulties engaging in goal-directed behavior, impulsivity, lack of emotional awareness, limited access to ER strategies, and lack of emotional clarity) have received less attention. This study aimed to: (1) investigate the associations between maltreatment and adult victimization and the six ER dimensions while accounting for PTSS, and (2) determine whether there are indirect effects between maltreatment and adult victimization through each ER component. Seven hundred and forty-four undergraduates from two universities participated in the study (Mage = 21.48, SD = 4.12; 80.9% women; 56.2% white). Maltreatment and PTSS were directly linked with adult victimization (B = 0.14, B = 0.01, respectively). PTSS was inversely associated with each ER aspect (Bs = 0.02-0.10). Unexpectedly, neither maltreatment nor adult victimization was related to the ER dimensions, and no indirect effects were observed between maltreatment and adult victimization through emotion dysregulation. These findings suggest that specific components of emotion dysregulation may not be tied to trauma exposure outside of PTSS. Further, it may be that the ER dimensions are not differentially related to increased risk for adult victimization.

An evaluation of an Australia-based home Burglary prevention program

In response to an increase in the number of burglaries in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) from 2014 to 2020, the ACT government funded the development of a home-based Burglary prevention program. The aim of the program is to improve household security particularly for those properties at heightened risk of victimisation and re-victimisation. The program consisted of security assessments of properties and, based on assessments, installation of security devices for eligible program clients. Results from the evaluation reveal that the program produces positive benefits overall in terms of enhanced security, reduced risk of re-victimisation, improvement in perceived sense of personal security, and positive economic return on investment.

Adapting Adolescent Dating Violence Prevention Interventions to Victims of Child Sexual Abuse.

Considering the increased risk of revictimization, adolescents who have experienced child sexual abuse (CSA) are a priority subpopulation for the prevention of dating violence. Yet, intervention programs often focus on psychological symptomology associated with CSA; few tackle issues specific to relational violence. Addressing the relational traumatization of adolescents with a history of CSA is essential to prevent their revictimization. Given specific CSA sequelae related to intimacy and engagement in sexual behaviors, there is a need for tailoring interventions to boy and girl survivors. A case study of a group intervention designed for adolescent girls with a history of CSA was conducted. The context adaptation, based on intervention mapping proposed by Bartholomew and colleagues, served as a theoretical framework. Four steps were taken to ensure that the intervention addressed CSA youth needs: (a) needs assessment, (b) analysis of the conceptual framework of the original program, (c) selection of interventions and developing new interventions, and (d) validation with a committee of practitioners. This approach provided an understanding of risk factors and intervention priorities using the problem logic model. The original program was enhanced by adding four interventions addressing the prevention of dating violence. These interventions were then validated by practitioners before implementation in the setting. The approach underscores the relevance of understanding the needs of the clientele and of adopting a collaborative approach to ensure the proposed interventions are relevant.

Sexual violence experiences among adolescent and young adult males: a review to empower healthcare providers.

Despite 3-17% of adolescent and young adult males (AYAMs) experiencing sexual violence, there is a paucity of information regarding their sexual violence experiences leaving them vulnerable to dangerous and detrimental sequelae. There is underreporting and under-discussion of AYAMs' experiences of sexual violence, with disclosure influenced by societal perceptions of male sexuality, shame, and fear of discrimination. AYAMs experience sexual violence from individuals known to them, with many experiencing physical violence, threats, coercion, and electronic harassment. Intersectionality, previous traumas, inappropriate childhood exposures to sexually explicit situations, select online media consumption, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) increase the risk of sexual violence. AYAMs who experience sexual violence are at increased risk of re-victimization, perpetrating sexual violence, experiencing bodily harm, contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and experiencing internalizing and externalizing symptoms, which can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Research on male-specific protective and resilience factors is scarce and represents an ongoing need. After reviewing AYAMs' experiences of sexual violence, including risk and protective factors, media influences, detrimental sequelae, and resilience factors, we provide a screening framework to empower the healthcare provider (HCP) to champion tailored prevention, screening, intervention, and advocacy efforts to support AYAMs.

Sexual, Physical, and Emotional Maltreatment in Childhood Are Differentially Associated With Sexual and Physical Revictimization in Adulthood.

Childhood maltreatment increases risk for sexual and physical revictimization in adulthood. The goal of the current study was to examine whether this risk is associated with specific maltreatment types (i.e., sexual vs. physical vs. emotional maltreatment vs. neglect) and perpetrators (i.e., mother vs. father). Participants included 720 adult women from North America and the United Kingdom, recruited through the online platform Prolific Academic. The severity of childhood maltreatment and adult physical and sexual victimization were assessed in two separate sessions through self-report questionnaires. All maltreatment types were modeled together to account for their co-occurrence. Greater severity of sexual maltreatment was significantly and independently associated with greater risk for sexual, physical, and sexual + physical revictimization. Further, in the full sample, risk of revictimization was predicted by greater severity of father-perpetrated emotional and physical maltreatment. In contrast, in subgroup analyses focusing on plurisexual (i.e., bi/pansexual) women, risk of revictimization was predicted by greater severity of mother-perpetrated emotional and physical maltreatment. These results suggest that girls with sexual and emotional maltreatment histories are at highest risk for revictimization. Future research identifying the biological, psychological, and social sequelae of these specific exposures may enable the development of specific intervention programs that have the potential for maximum efficacy in preventing further violence against women most at risk.

Abuse and revictimization in adulthood in multiple sclerosis: a cross-sectional study during pregnancy

BackgroundKnowledge concerning exposure to abuse in adulthood and in pregnancy in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) is sparse.ObjectiveTo determine the occurrence of adult abuse and abuse in relation to pregnancy in women with MS and their risk of revictimization (repeated abuse as adults after childhood abuse).MethodsThis cross-sectional study comprised pregnant women from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort study. Information on abuse was acquired through self-completed questionnaires. We used logistic regression to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsWe identified 106 women with MS at enrollment through linkage with national health registries. The reference group consisted of 77,278 women without MS. Twenty-seven women (26%) with MS reported any adult abuse compared to 15,491 women (20%) without MS, aOR 1.33 (0.85–2.09). Twenty-two (21%) women with MS reported systematic emotional abuse compared to 13% without MS, aOR 1.75 (1.08–2.83). Ten women (10%) with MS reported sexual abuse, compared to 6% without MS, aOR 1.72 (0.89–3.33). More women with MS reported rape as an adult, aOR 2.37 (1.02–5.49). Women with MS had higher risk of revictimization as adults, after childhood abuse, aOR 2.23 (1.22–4.10). The risk of abuse during pregnancy or 6 months preceding pregnancy was similar between the groups.ConclusionsWomen with MS had increased occurrence of systematic emotional abuse, rape, and revictimization as adults, compared to women without MS.

Sexual Violence in Military Service Members/Veterans Individual and Interpersonal Outcomes Associated with Single and Multiple Exposures to Civilian and Military Sexual Violence.

Sexual harassment and violence is a grave public health concern and risk for revictimization increases following initial exposure. Studies of sexual revictimization in military samples are generally limited to women and are focused on rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with no examination of how revictimization relates to interpersonal outcomes, such as relationship or sexual satisfaction. The current study addressed these gaps in a sample of 833 women and 556 men service members/veterans. Self-reported outcomes of PTSD, depression, suicidal ideation, sexual function, and relationship satisfaction were compared across those reporting exposure to sexual harassment and violence before the military only (i.e., pre-military), during the military only (i.e., military sexual harassment and violence [MSV]), before and during the military (i.e., revictimization), and to no exposure. More than half of women (51.14%, n = 426) reported revictimization and only 5.79% (n = 28) of men reported revictimization. Among women, those reporting MSV or revictimization tended to report higher PTSD, depression, and suicidal ideation relative to pre-military sexual violence and no sexual violence exposure. No interpersonal outcomes were significantly different among these sexual violence groups. Among men, revictimization was associated with higher PTSD, depression, and sexual compulsivity. PTSD and depression were also higher among those reporting MSV only. No effects were found for premilitary sexual trauma exposure only or relationship satisfaction for either group. Findings highlight the particularly bothersome nature of MSV, whether it occurred alone or in tandem with premilitary sexual violence. Findings also show unique gender differences across outcomes, suggesting interventions following sexual harassment and violence may differ for men and women.

Physical intimate partner violence on college campuses: Re-victimization of sexual minority students and their help-seeking behavior

The purpose of this study of physical intimate partner violence (IPV) among college students was to compare re-victimization rates between sexual minority and heterosexual students and to describe their help-seeking behavior. Sexual minority students who reported previous physical IPV victimization at baseline were at heightened risk for re-victimization during the course of this yearlong study. Sexual minority students more often sought help from formal sources of help (e.g., college counselors) than informal ones (e.g., friends and family) following physical IPV victimization. These findings highlight the importance of increasing access to social services tailored to the needs of this at-risk population.

Sexual and physical revictimization in U.S. military veterans.

The present study examined revictimization, defined as sexual or physical assault in adulthood that followed a history of childhood maltreatment. We aimed to identify factors associated with revictimization over time in a group of U.S. military veterans deployed following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks (9/11). As revictimization is associated with multiple negative mental health outcomes in the literature, identifying risk and protective factors can aid in the prevention of revictimization and associated poor health outcomes among veterans. In this sample, the proportion of adult revictimization was 2.7% for men, 95% CI [2.0, 3.6] and 22.9% for women, 95% CI [20.5, 25.8]. Using multilevel logistic models, we found that women, β=2.2, p<.001; Navy veterans, β=1.5, p<.001; and participants who reported posttraumatic stress symptoms, β=0.2, p=.028, were at significantly higher risk of revictimization across time compared to nonrevictimized counterparts. Social support while in the military was protective, β=-0.1, p<.001, against revictimization. In addition, childhood abuse experiences combined with characteristics such as female gender were related to an increased risk of revictimization during and following military service. The findings highlight opportunities for intervention and areas of strength within this population; social connection garnered during military service may serve as a protective factor against revictimization. Future research is needed to examine the role of social support in possibly lowering veterans' risk of revictimization over time, particularly for post-9/11 veterans struggling with transitioning from military to civilian life.

Understanding Discussions of Sexual Assault in Young Women on a Peer Support Mental Health App: A Content Analysis.

Trauma narratives may have been influenced by the Me Too movement, with thousands of individuals disclosing sexual violence stories online. Youth, the largest demographic of online users, may prefer the anonymity of the Internet to discuss experiences of sexual assault. Understanding the ways that young women, especially those experiencing mental health difficulties, discuss their experiences is important as they are at higher risk of revictimization and continued poor mental health. We searched for terms related to acts of sexual assault on a mental health peer-support app, TalkLife, and compared the number of posts during the initial wave of the Me Too movement (October 2017-March 2018) to the same time period in the previous year (October 2016-March 2017). We found a significant increase in posts related to sexual assault of 49.7% between the Pre and Post Me Too time periods (p < .001), controlling for a general increase in posts. A content analysis of 700 randomly selected posts found that a substantial number of young women used TalkLife to discuss their experiences of sexual assault, and these self-disclosures were mostly hopeless or depressing in tone. Additionally, neither the nature nor the number of self-disclosures varied across time points. The negative tone of the self-disclosures in the current study is worrying because the way women talk about their trauma can shape how they understand it, which could lead to negative self-appraisal and continued mental health difficulties. Online spaces have the potential to support young women and facilitate help-seeking, but we must be attentive to how they are used.

A Recurring Nightmare: Risk and Protective Factors for Revictimization of Child Sexual Abuse in Chile

ABSTRACT Child and adolescent victims of sexual crimes are at high risk for further abuse, which translates in a relatively higher risk of revictimization for a child or adolescent who has already been a victim of sexual abuse, compared to one who has not. Although sexual revictimization has been extensively studied in young and adult populations, much less is known about occurrences in childhood and adolescence. In this vein, this article seeks to identify risk of, and protective factors against, revictimization in a census sample of victims under 18 years of age in Chile. Risk and protective factors were studied in a database of all complaints of sexual offenses against children and adolescents registered at two time-points over two years: first, during 2012, and again through January 2015. Using multiple logistic regression, we identified risk factors associated with the probability of sexual revictimization, such as sex of the perpetrator (OR = 3.6 for female perpetrators), previous sexual offenses attributed to perpetrators (OR = 1.8), age of victim at the time of abuse (6–12 OR = .77; 13–17 = OR = .69), and minimization of abuse (OR = 1.3). Finally, interaction tests identified an association between the sex of the original perpetrator and the sex of the victim, as well as an association between the sex of the original perpetrator and the age of the victim. The implications of these findings for victim protection and victimological public policy are discussed.

Betrayal trauma, dissociative experiences, and posttrauma cognitions among women in a state shelter home

Context: There is a long history of interpersonal trauma in women, and the risk factors and mental health consequences have been well studied. Betrayal trauma (BT) theory by Freyd talks about the specific kind of trauma perpetrated by someone close to the victim, which may lead to increased dissociative responses. Recent research extends the theory to explain the role of posttrauma appraisals playing a mediating role in the development of psychopathological responses.Aim: The aim of this study was to explore trauma history, BT, and dissociative experiences among women in a Government Reception Centre.Setting: The sample included 30 women from the Reception Centre, Bangalore.Subjects and Methods: Data were obtained using a Sociodemographic Data Sheet, Brief BT Survey (revised), the Dissociative Experiences Scale, Posttrauma Cognitions Inventory and a visual analog scale for assessing psychological distress.Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive statistics and nonparametric inferential statistics were used for quantitative analysis.Results: All the women in the sample had experienced BT directly or as witnesses. There was no significant difference in dissociation between high- and low-BT groups. The presence of negative cognitions toward oneself was associated with increased dissociative experiences. Negative cognitions toward self and depersonalization experiences were higher in the group with severe physical trauma than the group without.Conclusion: The article highlights the high prevalence of betrayal trauma, and risk for trauma-related psychopathology and revictimization that go unassessed in government shelter homes, while reiterating the need for a trauma-informed care approach to intervention.

Vulnerability Factors among Women Victimized by Intimate Partner Violence and the Presence of Children

This study aimed to a) examine the presence of children in relation to victim vulnerability factors and assessed risk for intimate partner violence (IPV) re-victimization, and b) examine the police response, in terms of risk management, in IPV cases with and without children, respectively. Data from a sample of 1407 women who had reported IPV victimization to the Swedish police was analyzed. The material consisted of risk assessments conducted by the police using the Swedish version of the Brief Spousal Assault Form for the Evaluation of Risk (B-SAFER) checklist, as well as the recommended risk management strategies. A series of chi-square tests of independence revealed that women with and without children, respectively, displayed different vulnerability factors to different extents. Women with children expressed more extreme fear of the perpetrator and were more likely to have an unsafe living situation, whereas women without children displayed more inconsistent attitudes or behaviors and health problems. However, binary logistic regression analyses showed that the victim vulnerability factors that were most strongly associated with an elevated risk rating for IPV re-victimization were generally the same for both groups of victims. Finally, the presence of children was related to a higher risk rating for imminent IPV re-victimization and to recommendations of more than standard levels of risk management strategies. The results indicate that the Swedish police consider the presence of children in relation to a victim’s risk for re-victimization as well as in terms of recommended risk management strategies.

Impulsivity and the effects of alcohol in women with a history of childhood sexual abuse: A pilot study.

Women with a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) are at greater risk to develop alcohol use disorders. Whereas impulsivity has been postulated as a behavioral mechanism linking childhood trauma and alcohol use, few studies have comprehensively examined impulsivity in women with CSA. We compared women with a history of CSA (n = 21) and control women who did not endorse CSA or other major traumas (CON; n = 21) on self-report measures of impulsivity and risk taking. Additionally, performance on behavioral impulsivity and subjective response to alcohol were examined before and after acute alcohol (0.00, 0.50, 0.75 g/kg) administration. Overall, women with CSA responded more impulsively than CON women on the immediate and delayed-memory tasks (measures of response initiation) and the GoStop task (a measure of response inhibition). Whereas alcohol produced dose-related increases in impulsive responding on the immediate memory task in both groups, alcohol-induced increases in response inhibition on the GoStop task were evident only in the CSA group. In contrast, women with CSA exhibited less risk taking than the CON group on the balloon analogue risk task. Alcohol produced dose-related increases on several subjective response measures (e.g., alcohol liking) in both groups; however, these ratings tended to be greater in women with CSA. These preliminary data suggest that women with CSA may be more impulsive. Importantly, impulsivity can lead to hazardous drinking, and alcohol consumption can further increase impulsivity, putting women with CSA at increased risk for sexual revictimization, particularly in the context of alcohol use. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

The intersection of intimate partner violence and childhood sexual abuse in mother-child dyads

BackgroundChild sexual abuse (CSA) and intimate partner violence (IPV) have been associated with negative consequences for adult victims and their children including a risk of revictimization and intergenerational continuity. ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to document correlates of intergenerational cumulative trauma profiles in mother-child dyads. Participants and settingA sample of 997 sexually abused children (mean age = 7.61 years; 79.1% girls) and their mothers was recruited. MethodsLatent Class Analysis (LCA) was used to identify classes of cumulative trauma among dyads. Classes were compared on validated measures of psychological functioning for both members of the dyads. ResultsFour distinct classes emerged: CSA Only (43.3%), Intergenerational CSA with Psychological IPV (14.2%), Physical and Psychological IPV with Low Child Exposure (24.0%) and Intergenerational Polyvictimization (18.5%). Comparisons generally revealed lower distress in CSA Only dyads, and higher levels of psychological difficulties in the two most victimized groups. However, the dose-response pattern was not as clear as expected, as the two most victimized groups did not differ in terms of psychological functioning. ConclusionsThis study shows that higher levels of intergenerational cumulative trauma are associated with increased psychological symptoms in mothers and more dissociation in their sexually abused children. Interventions should be adapted to the specific needs of families to prevent lasting intergenerational difficulties in trauma exposed individuals.

Revictimization Patterns Among Unhoused Youth.

Young people experiencing houselessness are at high risk for revictimization. As has been identified in other populations, symptoms of psychological distress may be an indirect pathway by which initial victimization may increase risk for later revictimization among youth experiencing houselessness. The current study used cross-sectional mediation analyses to examine the hypothesis that there would be an indirect effect of interpersonal victimization that occurred before young people left home on subsequent victimization while experiencing houselessness, through posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms. Youth (N = 245) residing in a shelter provided responses during an in-person interview screening prior to participating in a larger clinical study. Relevant to the current study, youth reported victimization experiences before and after leaving home (Childhood Trauma and Juvenile Victimization Questionnaires, respectively), and PTSD and depression symptoms on the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Results replicated and extended previous findings determining high rates of victimization among houseless young people both before (92%) and after (75%) leaving home. Further, exposure to more types of childhood victimization significantly predicted likelihood of experiencing more types of victimization after leaving home. Significant indirect effects of childhood victimization risk on revictimization after leaving home were found, occurring through both PTSD and depression symptoms. Results are discussed in terms of existing theories of revictimization, with particular emphasis on the state-dependence theory of victimization. These findings have implications for intervention with young people experiencing houselessness, particularly with regard to addressing the consequences of childhood victimization and trauma-informed support systems.

Understanding How Cumulative Victimization Predicts Future Victimization Risk: Relevance of Cognitive Versus Social Mediation

Cumulative victimization represents the summation of victimization experiences across multiple contexts, with greater accumulation generally predicting greater dysfunction than less accumulation of exposures. Past research has indicated that cumulative victimization predicts increased risk for future revictimization also. The dual systems model may help to understand this relationship. This framework comprises constructs of sensation-seeking and impulse control in developmental context. Deviant peer association may provide a social factor that helps to understand this relationship. Victimization has been found to influence all of these constructs identified here. It is predicted that increased accumulation of victimization experiences may drive variation in these constructs that results in elevated risk for revictimization. This study sought to test the theory that each of these three constructs independently mediated the cumulative victimization–revictimization relationship. The Pathways to Desistance data were used in analyses. This sample was comprised of 1,354 juvenile offenders followed for 7 years after a recent adjudication prior to baseline measurements. The first three waves of data were used in analyses. Generalized structural equation modeling was used to test for the relationships of interest. A bootstrapping process of computing standard errors was carried out to determine significance of mediation effects. Results indicated that increased cumulative victimization scores at baseline predicted increased probability of experiencing victimization at Wave 3. This relationship was attenuated by about 15% when all mediators were added to the model and the relationship remained significant. Further analyses indicated that the specific indirect effect running through deviant peer association was significant, as was the total indirect effect. Findings indicate that increases in cumulative victimization may result in increased affiliation with deviant peers that further increases their future victimization risk. Service providers for survivors of violence should focus on screening of social relationships of those they provide care for in order to assess safety concerns.