Victimization Scale Research Articles

Relative victimization scale: initial development and retrospective reports of the impact on mental health

BackgroundBullying and victimization have been studied in many contexts and classified as peer victimization in school settings and parental or sibling victimization within family settings. Yet, current research is scarce on whether victimization occurring within family settings is specific to parental or sibling victimization. Thus, the current study aims to develop a scale assessing victimization conducted by relatives and provide support for its psychometric properties.MethodsCross-sectional and longitudinal data were collected from university students (1622 and 1045 students, respectively) and participants responded to questionnaires via an online survey.ResultsEFA and CFA results demonstrated the unidimensionality of the Relative Victimization Scale (RVS) consisting of eight items. In terms of convergent validity, RVS scores were correlated with the scores on parental, sibling, and peer victimization scales and several psychological health outcomes including depression, anxiety, social anxiety, perceived stress, loneliness, negative and positive affect, life satisfaction, and resilience. Moreover, RVS explained a significant amount of variance beyond the contribution of parental, sibling, and peer victimization in those psychological health outcomes for the support of incremental validity.ConclusionsThe findings of the study indicated the potential utility of the RVS in assessing the experience of relative victimization through offering support for internal consistency reliability and construct, longitudinal predictive, and incremental validity.

Social support and mental health outcomes in palestinian children victims of bullying and cyberbullying during the covid-19 pandemic: an exploratory investigation

BackgroundStudies have shown that COVID-19 negatively impacted mental health by increasing depression and anxiety. Additionally, bullying might deteriorate children's psychological functioning. Nevertheless, social support has been studied as a positive buffer for mental well-being.ObjectivesThus, our study aimed to examine the consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak on children’s mental health when they are a victim of bullying and cyberbullying. Moreover, we tested the effect of social support as a mediating variable. A sample of 141 children (63 boys and 78 girls) 9 to 13 years old (M = 10.31, SD = 2.26) who reported having experienced bullying participated in the research. All were Palestinians living in Israel, attending primary schools.MethodsData was collected using the following measures, the Multidimensional Bullying Victimization Scale (MBVS), the Adolescents Cyber-Victimization Scale (CYBVICS), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), a questionnaire measuring the effect of COVID-19 on mental health outcomes, the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Structural equation modelling was applied to test the association between variables and mediating effects.FindingsA positive correlation between Fear of COVID-19 and traditional bullying, cyberbullying, depression, and anxiety were found. Moreover, social support was negatively correlated with traditional forms of bullying and cyberbullying. Also, statistically significant differences between traditional bullying, cyberbullying, depression, and parents' difficulties emerged from parental marital status.Conclusionsfindings might help victims of bullying by training teachers and guiding parents to construct intervention plans to empower the social networks of children victims.

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.

Bully victimization and self-esteem among students with communication disorders

BackgroundBullying is a universal problem among school-aged adolescents, characterized by recurrent and destructive behavior toward peers. Bullying victimization has a strong impact on self-esteem. Students diagnosed with communication disorders are more likely to experience low self-esteem. The study’s main goal is to detect a correlation between victimization and self-esteem in teenage students diagnosed with communication disorders.MethodsFrom October 2023 to March 2024, we conducted this cross-sectional study in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. The study included 150 teenage students of both genders diagnosed with communication disorders. Rosenberg’s self-esteem scale was used to measure self-esteem, and the multidimensional peer victimization scale was used to measure bullying victimization. We analyzed the data using independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and simple linear regression analysis.ResultsThis study found that students with communication disorders experience high levels of bullying victimization (M = 18.63) and report low self-esteem (M = 13.56). A significant negative correlation was observed between bullying victimization and self-esteem (r2 = 0.21), indicating that bullying accounts for 21% of the variance in self-esteem. Male students were more likely to experience higher levels of bullying victimization and lower self-esteem compared to female students.ConclusionThe study determined the severe impact of bullying on the self-esteem of adolescent students with communication disorders, particularly among males and those with stuttering. The long-term effects of bullying and potential protective factors that could mitigate its impact on self-esteem require further research.

Quantifying Toxic Friendship: A Preliminary Investigation of a Measure of Victimization in the Friendships of Adolescents.

Although friendship is a key source of support and intimacy for adolescents, adolescent friendships can also involve victimization, which can be harmful to youth well-being. To date, our understanding of victimization in friendship has been limited by a lack of measures that comprehensively capture the variety of negative behaviors occurring in this relationship. This study outlines the development and preliminary validation of the Friendship Victimization Scale for Adolescents (FVS-A), which assesses victimization and controlling behaviors in adolescent friendships. Adolescents (N = 706, Mage = 15.93, SD = 1.67; 62.3% cisgender girls, 33.7% cisgender boys) from high schools in Canada completed the FVS-A and other measures in the fall of 2019. The factor structure and psychometric properties of the measure were examined. The FVS-A demonstrated excellent internal consistency and a 3-factor structure (relational victimization, physical/verbal victimization, controlling behavior). There was evidence for demographic differences such that cisgender girls reported more overall friendship victimization, as well as relational victimization and control, than did cisgender boys. Greater friendship victimization was associated with greater dating victimization and gender-based bullying and was uniquely associated with greater depressive symptoms after accounting for these other types of victimization. Findings suggest that friendship victimization is common among adolescents. The results provide evidence for the utility of the FVS-A as a measure of an understudied source of interpersonal risk. Future work is needed to understand the long-term implications of friendship victimization and to elucidate the temporal associations between friendship victimization and other indicators of psychosocial adjustment.

Online racial discrimination scale: A study of measurement invariance across racial-ethnic and gender groups.

Reliable and valid tools assessing online racism exposures in youth of color are needed. The present study examined the validity, internal consistency, and measurement invariance of the modified individual and vicarious Online Racial Discrimination (ORD) subscales from the Online Victimization Scale (OVS; Tynes et al., 2010). Using a nationally representative sample of Black and Latinx adolescents (N = 696), this study employed an exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) to (a) confirm the factor structure with the updated individual and vicarious ORD subscales, (b) test the measurement invariance across racial-ethnic and gender groups, and (c) investigate the construct validity. Findings revealed that the two-factor model provided good fit of the data and good conceptual clarity consistent with our original framework. Additionally, the individual and vicarious ORD subscales met the criteria for scalar measurement invariance across racial-ethnic groups. These subscales also met criteria for metric invariance across gender groups, and this finding cautions users from comparing (adjusted-)means of intercepts across gender groups given that scalar measurement invariance was not supported. The ORD scale is a reliable and valid measure for assessing experiences of online racial discrimination in Black and Latinx adolescents. These findings provide further support for the ORD scale's psychometric properties to help advance this line of research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Cross-lagged analysis of cyberbullying victimization, school connection, and depression among high school students

Cyberbullying is a common social problem that has a profound impact on the psychological and emotional state of victims, especially with complex associations between school connection and depression. Research has shown that victims of cyberbullying often feel isolated and lack a sense of belonging in the school environment, which weakens their emotional connection with the school community, namely school connection. Due to the decrease in school connection, victims may be more likely to experience depressive emotions, as schools are a key place for them to receive social support and positive interaction. Meanwhile, the exacerbation of depression may form a vicious cycle, making it more difficult for victims to escape the negative effects of cyberbullying. Therefore, it is necessary for us to explore the relationship and mechanisms between cyberbullying victimization, school connection, and depression. The aim of this study is to adopt a tracking research design and use cross lag analysis to explore the longitudinal relationship between high school students' cyberbullying victimization, school connections, and depression, to further understand the causal relationship among the three factors. And test the lagged effect of cyberbullying victimization on depression, compare data from different time points to determine whether cyberbullying victimization will lead to the onset or exacerbation of depressive symptoms after a period of time. In addition, it can also explore the mediating role of school connections between cyberbullying victimization and depression. The study sample comprised 622 high school students, who participated in a longitudinal assessment (two time points, six months apart). They completed the Cyberbullying and Cyberbullying Victimization Scale, School Contact Scale, and Depression Scale. The results revealed that at T1, cyberbullying victimization negatively predicts school connectivity among high school students. T1 cyberbullying victimization positively predicts T1 depression, and T1 depression, in turn, significantly predicts T2 cyberbullying victimization. There is a reciprocal predictive relationship between school connection and depression. School connection at both T1 and T2 mediates the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and depression. Based on these results, it is indicated that prevention and intervention efforts for depression need to address the phenomenon of cyberbullying victimization and enhance students' school connection.

May Bullying Victimization and Loneliness in Adolescents be Risk Factors for Psychological Resilience?

Bullying victimization, which has been identified as a common problem among adolescents in recent years, negatively affects adolescents' psychological resilience in many ways. Similarly, loneliness may also be a risk factor for adolescents' psychological resilience. This study aims to examine the relationships between bullying victimization, loneliness and psychological resilience with adolescents. A total of 639 adolescents (415 girls and 224 boys) attending high school participated in the research. Data were collected through the Multidimensional Bullying Victimization Scale, UCLA Short Form and Adolescent Resilience Scale. The presented hypothesis was tested using hierarchical regression analysis. The findings reveal that there are significant relationships between bullying victimization, loneliness and psychological resilience. In addition, the findings show that bullying victimization and loneliness are significant negative predictors of psychological resilience. According to the findings it is recommended to prevent bullying behaviors among adolescents and to conduct studies to improve adolescents' relationships with peers.

The development of a bullying victimisation scale: the experience of Pakistani adolescents

ABSTRACT This paper describes and evaluates the procedure for the development and validation of the bullying victimisation scale for Pakistani young people aged 12–18 years. During phase I, a total of 60 participants aged from 13 to 17 years were selected by using a multistage sampling strategy for item generation for bullying victimisation. In phase II, empirical validation was carried out by 10 experienced clinical psychologists for the cultural relevance of the scale. In phase III, a pilot study was carried out on 20 participants for testing the layout of the bullying victimisation scale (BVS). In the final phase, a total of 780 participants were selected through a multi-stage sampling within the age range of 12–18 years (M = 14.78, SD = 1.33) and were given a demographic Proforma, BVS, and School Children Problem Scale. Factor analysis identified a three-factor solution for bullying victimisation, consisting of emotional bullying, verbal bullying, and physical bullying. The current findings have implications for psychological and educational professionals for the identification and management of social and emotional problems in children resulting from bullying victimisation.

Cybervictimization and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Among Chinese College Students: an Exploration Through the Lens of Experiential Avoidance Model.

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a growing public health concern among college students, with cybervictimization (CV) emerging as a significant contributing factor. Grounded in the experiential avoidance theory, this study investigates the mediating roles of cognitive fusion and negative emotions in the relationship between CV and NSSI, providing new insights into these key variables. A convenience sample of 457 undergraduate students (29% male; mean age 18.36±0.66 years) from two universities in Fujian Province participated in this study. Data were collected using the Cyberbullying Victimization Scale, Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Scale. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis were conducted using SPSS 25.0, while the mediating effects were analyzed using Process 3.5. (1) Significant positive correlations were found among CV, cognitive fusion, negative emotions, and NSSI (p < 0.01). (2) CV was directly associated with NSSI (β = 0.22, p < 0.001) and positively predicted both cognitive fusion (β = 0.17, p < 0.001) and negative emotions (β = 0.15, p < 0.01). Additionally, cognitive fusion (β = 0.16, p < 0.01) and negative emotions (β = 0.11, p < 0.05) significantly predicted NSSI. (3) Mediation analyses revealed that cognitive fusion and negative emotions mediated the CV-NSSI relationship through three pathways: CV→cognitive fusion→NSSI (mediation effect = 0.026), CV→negative emotions→NSSI (mediation effect = 0.02), and CV→cognitive fusion→negative emotions→NSSI (mediation effect = 0.01). The study confirms that CV influences NSSI indirectly through cognitive fusion and negative emotions, supporting the experiential avoidance model. These findings underscore the importance of addressing cognitive and emotional processes in interventions aimed at reducing NSSI among college students.

Do Cyberbullying Victims Feel more Entitled to Bully Others Online? The Moderating Role of Gender.

Previous studies have found that adolescent cyberbullying victimization is associated with cyberbullying perpetration and have explored the potential mediating mechanisms between the two. Although some valuable research has been accumulated, further exploration is needed on the underlying mechanisms of why cyber victims are transformed into cyberbullying perpetrators. Based on the General Aggression Model of Cyberbullying and the Social Role Theory, this study examined the mediating role of psychological entitlement and the moderating role of gender on the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and cyberbullying perpetration. A questionnaire survey was conducted on 836 adolescents, utilizing the cyberbullying victimization scale, cyberbullying perpetration scale, and psychological entitlement questionnaire. The results found that (a) cyberbullying victimization, psychological entitlement, and cyberbullying perpetration were significantly and positively correlated with each other; (b) after controlling for gender and age, cyberbullying victimization significantly and positively predicted cyberbullying perpetration and psychological entitlement mediated the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and cyberbullying perpetration; (c) Gender moderates the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and cyberbullying perpetration. Specifically, compared with the girls, cyberbullying victimization had a greater effect on cyberbullying perpetration among boys. The results of this study suggest that cyberbullying victims consider that they have more entitlement to bully others online. These findings support the General Aggression Model of Cyberbullying and provide new insights for the prevention and intervention of cyberbullying perpetration.

Florence Bullying-Victimization Scales: Validation Study and Victimization Associations With Well-Being and Social Self-Efficacy

This study provides a thorough psychometric evaluation of construct and criterion validity and measurement invariance of the promising Florence Bullying-Victimization Scales (FBVS). A special focus was devoted to the concurrent criterion validity of the victimization scale with regard to well-being and social self-efficacy. Exploratory and confirmatory multidimensional item response theory and structural equation modeling were applied to cross-sectional data retrieved from 3rd to 6th-grade Czech primary school students ( N = 1795; 49% female; M age = 10.42, SD = 1.25). The results supported the use of unidimensional factor structure that demonstrated acceptable model fit and measurement invariance across genders and grades. Moderate to high correlations of the FBVS scores with bullying and victimization measured by the Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire and other instruments indicated very good convergent validity. Regarding criterion validity, higher victimization was associated with lower levels of well-being and social self-efficacy.

The mediating effect of bullying on parental–peer support matching and NSSI behaviour among adolescents

BackgroundBeing subjected to bullying is a significant risk factor for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among adolescents. Parental support, peer support, and social connectedness play protective roles in mitigating NSSI in this population. However, the precise impact of the combined effects of parental and peer support on bullying and NSSI requires further investigation.MethodsThis study employed the Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale, Delaware Bullying Victimisation Scale, Social Connectedness Scale, and the Ottawa Self-Injury Inventory to survey 1277 Chinese adolescents. Polynomial regression analysis and response surface analysis were applied to examine the mediating role of bullying and social connectedness in the relationship between parental and peer support matching and NSSI.ResultsThe results indicate that parental support (r = 0.287, P < 0.001), peer support (r = 0.288, P < 0.001), and social connectedness (r = 0.401, P < 0.001) were protective factors against NSSI in adolescents. Conversely, bullying (r = 0.425, P < 0.001) acts as a risk factor for NSSI in this population. Adolescents with low parental and peer support experienced more bullying than those with high parental and peer support, while those with low parental but high peer support experienced less bullying than those with high parental but low peer support (R^2 = 0.1371, P < 0.001). Social connectedness moderated the effect between bullying and NSSI in this model (β = 0.006, P < 0.001).LimitationsDue to the under-representation of participants and lack of longitudinal data support, the explanatory power of causality between variables was limited. Future studies should include national samples and incorporate longitudinal studies to enhance the generalisability and robustness of the findings.ConclusionThis study reveals the influence mechanism of parental and peer support matching experienced by adolescents on bullying and NSSI and the moderating role of social connectedness. These findings enrich the developmental theory of adolescent NSSI and provide reference for the prevention and intervention of adolescent NSSI behaviour.

Self-reported social well-being of children with hearing loss in 2023

Objectives To study the level of social well-being for children with hearing loss (HL) using self-completed questionnaires. Methods The data sample relates to a total of 22 children representing a new group of children with HL. This new group is defined as HL detected through neonatal hearing screening and fitted with hearing technology when relevant before 6 months, received bilateral cochlear implants before one year of age followed by specific educational training using the auditory-verbal practice. The age range was from 9 to 12 years. Two self-completed questionnaires were used: The California Bullying Victimisation Scale (CBVS) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The project design was a prospective case series. Results Self-completed assessments revealed levels of social well-being for both questionnaires comparable to populations with normal hearing. CBVS results showed that a total of 52.6% reported being ‘not a victim’, 36.8% peer victims and 10.5% bully victims. Results from SDQ revealed that 94.7% of the children reported being within the normal level for scores on both social strength and difficulties, 5.3% scored slightly raised/lowered and 0% had high/low scores or very high/low scores. Conclusion The new group of children with HL presented with self-completed scores comparable to peers with normal hearing. It is time to raise expectations for children with HL in terms of not only outcomes on audition and spoken language but also most importantly on levels of social well-being. Furthermore, it is discussed whether this new group can also be defined as a new generation of children with HL.

Factors Influencing Peer Victimization from the Perspective of Home-School Partnership: A Moderated Mediation Model

This study aims to explore the overlapping influences of the home and school on peer victimization in adolescents under the notion of home-school partnership and to investigate how the parent-child relationship, teacher-student relationship, teenage depressive symptoms are related to peer victimization by constructing a moderated mediation model. It surveyed 1,710 students in 5-8 grades, using the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment, Student-Teacher Relationship Scale (brief version), Multidimensional Peer Victimization Scale, and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (brief version). Research findings show that the parent-child relationship had a direct impact on peer victimization and indirectly affected peer victimization via the mediation of teenage depressive symptoms; and that teacher-student relationships had moderating effects on the three paths in the mediation model, playing roles in enhancing the protection effect of the parent-child relationship against peer victimization, weakening the possible impact of the parent-child relationship on teenager depression, and alleviating the predictive effect of depressive symptoms on peer victimization. The research suggests that home-school partnership is a viable avenue for the prevention of school bullying.

Forms of Face-to-Face Victimization as Significant Correlates of General Online Victimization and Sexual Online Victimization.

Research has shown that face-to-face victimization is a risk factor for the online victimization of adolescents, but no prior study has examined and compared four forms of face-to-face victimization (physical victimization, verbal victimization, social manipulation, and attacks on property) as significant correlates of general online victimization and sexual online victimization among adolescents. This original study involved 794 adolescents (483 males and 311 females), aged 12 to 18 years (M = 14.49, SD = 1.90) from four middle schools in Hong Kong. The participants completed a self-report questionnaire consisting of three parts: the Multidimensional Peer Victimization Scale, the Online Victimization Scale, and demographic items. Verbal victimization and social manipulation were found to be significant correlates of general online victimization; in contrast, physical victimization and attacks on property were significant correlates of sexual online victimization. These findings may help professionals and educators to develop effective prevention and intervention strategies for preventing the cycle of victimization between physical and online platforms as well as reducing the suicide risk and crises among at-risk victimized adolescents.

Cyberbullying victimization and psychopathological symptoms among adolescents varied in BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and vagal tone

BackgroundCyberbullying victimization increases psychopathological symptoms among adolescents. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene rs6265 polymorphism or vagal tone as individual diathesis or plasticity has been identified to interact with adverse experiences to affect developmental psychopathology. However, how these different individual factors combined to interact with adverse experiences to affect developmental psychopathology remains unknown. This study sought to investigate the integrally moderating role of BDNF gene rs6265 polymorphism and vagal tone in the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and psychopathological symptoms among adolescents. MethodsThe Cyberbullying Victimization Scale (CVS) and the Youth Self-Report (YSR-2001-CV) were administered to 382 junior school students, their saliva were collected for DNA genotyping and 5 min resting high frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV) were recorded for assessing vagal tone. ResultsA positive relation between cyberbullying victimization and psychopathological symptoms was found, and this relation was independently and jointly moderated by resting HF-HRV and BDNF gene rs6265 polymorphism. Specifically, the relation was weaker only among adolescents with Val/Val genotype and low resting HF-HRV, but not those with Val/Val genotype and high resting HF-HRV, or Met/Met or Val/Met genotype regardless of resting HF-HRV. ConclusionThese findings suggest a combined moderating effect of BDNF gene rs6265 polymorphism and vagal tone on the relation between cyberbullying victimization and psychopathological symptoms among adolescents.

Cyber Victimization and Loneliness in Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Aim: This research was conducted to identify the cyber victimization and loneliness levels, the influencing factors, and the relationship between them in adolescents in Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design and Method: The cross‐sectional study was conducted between March 1 and March 15, 2021. The sample of the study consists of 351 adolescents who volunteered to participate in the study. All participants had internet access. Participants filled out the Google Docs form used to collect data, including the Descriptive Information Form, Cyber Victimization Scale, and UCLA Loneliness Scale. Results: The experience of cyber victimization in adolescents in Turkey is low and the experience of being lonely is at a moderate level. It was found that there is a significant relationship between adolescents' age group (p≤.05), gender (p≤.001), level of school success (p≤.05) during the pandemic, and cyber victimization. It was found that there is a statistically significant relationship between adolescents' age group (p≤.05), mother's employment status (p≤.001), and levels of school success (p≤.001) during the pandemic, and loneliness. Conclusions: In this study, there is a relationship between cyber victimization and loneliness. Cyber victimization can affect the loneliness of adolescents. During the COVID-19 pandemic, an evidence-based action plan should be implemented to protect the mental health of adolescents.

Victim Care or Defendant Rights? Assessing Public Attitudes towards Special Measures Designed to Support Vulnerable Witnesses at Trial

The introduction of ‘special measures’ within England and Wales (i.e., provisions for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses at court) marked a significant change in legal tradition and trial procedures such that victim and witness care was repositioned as a primary concern alongside the longstanding rights afforded to defendants. As public perceptions towards the legitimacy of criminal justice procedure remain a key concern among legal scholars and social scientists, this study aimed to examine individual differences in attitudes held towards the rights afforded to complainants and defendants within English courts. Adopting a cross-sectional study design, 114 UK adults were recruited to take part in an online survey. Questions centered around the importance of providing adequate witness care whilst protecting defendants’ rights to a fair trial. A new measurement tool was developed to allow these attitudes to be systematically assessed and understood, termed the Attitudes Towards Vulnerable Victims Scale (ATVVS). Results indicate that respondent age, gender, level of education, and belief in a just world are important determinants of public support for the use of special measures at trial as well as perceptions towards complainant and defendants’ rights. Taken together, findings indicate that misconceptions about vulnerable victims appear to underlie a lack of support for the use of special measures.

The Relationship between Cyber Violence Victimization and Adverse Childhood Experiences

IntroductionNowadays, following the increasing digital technologies, the cyber aspect of violence is becoming more common (Willard, Journal of Adolescent Health 2007; 41) At this point, we can think that cyber violence victimization, environmental factors such as childhood traumas, exposure to violence, and moreover psychological and biological factors play a role (Fan et al., Front. Psychol 2921;12)ObjectivesOur aim was to conduct a study to determine the prevalence of cyber violence victimization among university students and to examine whether this prevalence would be related to negative childhood traumas.MethodsWe reached university students in many cities of Turkey through an online survey between 01 January 2023 and 31 March 2023. A total of 600 students participated. In our survey, we used the Turkish forms of the Childhood Adverse Experiences Scale and the Cyber Victimization Scale, for which sociodemographic data, validity and reliability studies have been completed in Turkish.ResultsUniversity students from 8 different provinces participated in our study. According to the results of our study, it was evaluated that university students who had negative childhood experiences were more likely to become cyber victims. We are exposed to many traumas from the moment we are born, and this exposure is the relationship with the mother, then relatives, friends, teachers, colleagues, etc. It continues throughout life through relationships. There is a moderate relationship between victimization of blocking and damaging behaviors in cyberspace and negative childhood relationships (r = 0.304), a low level relationship between victimization of sexual bullying in cyberspace and negative childhood relationships (r = 0.289), and victimization of spreading rumors in cyberspace. A low degree of correlation (r = 0.277) was found between and negative childhood relationships. (p &lt;0.05)ConclusionsThe widespread use of technology today facilitates the digitalization of violence, as in every field. As a result, cyber violence, like other types of violence, may be associated with childhood traumas, and this can be prevented by being exposed to the least trauma during childhood, and moreover, if we look from Bronfenbrenner’s perspective, if the next generation grows up in a suitable ecological environment, cyber violence victimization can be prevented to that extent.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared