Types Of Victimization Research Articles

A short screen for lifetime sexual victimization experiences: Expanding research on the Sexual Abuse History Questionnaire (SAHQ) across cultures, genders, and sexual identities.

The Sexual Abuse History Questionnaire (SAHQ), a widely used screening tool for childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and adolescent/adult sexual assault (AASA) experiences, has limited examination of its psychometric properties in diverse populations. Our study assessed the SAHQ's psychometric properties (i.e., structural validity and measurement invariance across demographic groups, know-group validity, and internal consistency) and estimated the frequencies of various types of sexual victimization across 42 countries and in diverse gender-, trans-status-, and sexual-identity-based groups that were previously missing from measurement-focused studies. We used a large, non-representative sample (N = 81,465; 57 % women, 3.4 % gender-diverse individuals, Mage =32.34 years, SD=12.48) from the International Sex Survey, a 42-country cross-sectional, multi-language, online survey. The SAHQ demonstrated excellent structural validity in all country-, gender-, sexual-identity-, and trans-status-based groups, as well as acceptable reliability and known-group validity. Occurrence estimates for six CSA and AASA types were reported across sociodemographic groups, corroborating previous evidence that women and gender- and sexual-minority individuals are at greater risk of CSA and AASA. Pansexual and queer individuals emerged as a particularly vulnerable group. Associations between different types of CSA and AASA revealed that participants who experienced any form of CSA were at least twice as likely to experience AASA. The findings have significant implications for policy and interventions, especially for marginalized groups.

Using Routine Activity Theory to Predict Technology- Facilitated Violence Among U.S. Adults During COVID-19.

Using routine activity theory (RAT), the present study investigated predictors of two types of technology-facilitated violence: cyber obsessional pursuit victimization (COPV) and Cyber Aggression in Relationships Scale (CARS), during COVID-19 among a sample of U.S. adults (N = 2,975). Results revealed that target attractiveness in terms of gender, age, and racial/ethnic background predicted both intimate (CARS) and nonintimate (COPV) cyber violence. For target exposure, technology use and the perceived ability to protect one's privacy predicted both types of cyber violence. Previous experience of in-person intimate partner violence explained the largest amount of variance in both types of technology-facilitated violence victimization.

Peer Violence Poly-victimization in Youth and Associations to Psychosomatic Symptoms — A Latent Class Analysis

Abstract Peer victimization is a common and complex issue among young people worldwide and is affecting mental health development during a critical developmental period in their lives. By means of a Latent Class Analysis (LCA), this study explores peer poly-victimization subgroups among adolescents and their association with psychosomatic symptoms. A sample of 1536 Swedish students in grades 7–9 completed an electronic questionnaire on various types of victimization over the past six months, including physical violence, as well as in-person and cyber sexual harassment and bullying. The LCA identified three subgroups for boys and four for girls, revealing a gendered pattern of victimization, especially in the case of sexualized violence, which was more prevalent among girls. In girls, this type of violence also increased with age. Victimization was strongly associated with psychosomatic symptoms across genders, with sexualized violence having more severe health consequences. The findings emphasize the need for preventive programs that avoids siloed interventions and instead targets multiple forms of violence, including online harassment, to promote adolescent mental health.

통제요인들이 아동·청소년기 범죄피해 궤적에 미치는 영향

The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of control factors on the process of victimization over time based on the phenomenon of multiple victimization and repeat victimization of children and adolescents. This study hypothesizes that the types of victimization based on the category of poly-victimization can vary by the developmental stage of children and adolescents; the types of victimization based on the category of poly-victimization can exist in various groups over time; parental supervision, parental bonds, peer bonds, and self-control can affect victimization and victimization trajectories. The hypotheses were tested using data from the Korean Children & Youth Panel Survey(KCYPS), focusing on the period from the sixth grade of elementary school to the second grade of middle school. Frequency analysis, growth model analysis, latent class model analysis, and growth mixture model analysis were conducted to test hypotheses. The results show that the types of victimization are decreasing over time; victimization trajectories can be classified as risk group and general group; the most influential control factor on victimization trajectories is self-control. The findings suggest that the elementary school period is the most vulnerable period based on the types of victimization; there is a group that is vulnerable to victimization during the developmental stage of children and adolescents; victimization trajectories are better explained by the heterogeneity perspective than the event-dependence perspective; one of the risk factors for victimization is low self-control.

Analysis of cyber incidents in Senegal from 2005 to 2023

This article presents findings from a review of cyber incidents that occurred in Senegal between 2005 and 2023. Twenty-six incidents were identified, and they were analysed in terms of their frequency, incident type, perpetrator type, and victim type. The study found that cyber incidents are increasing in frequency in the country; that the most common incident types are cybercrimes and compromised websites; that the most frequent perpetrators are cybercriminals and hackers; that state/political organisations are slightly more likely than non-state/political entities to be attacked; that the most common incident type experienced by state/political entities is a compromised website; that the most frequent incident type for non-state/political organisations is cybercrime; and that insider attacks are much less common than external attacks, but still occur at a level that is a cause for concern. Based on the findings, the author recommends, inter alia, improved Senegalese government monitoring and reporting of cyber threats, with an emphasis on cooperation between the state’s Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT-Senegal, or SNCSIRT) and the CSIRT-Universitaire established by tertiary institutions in the country.

Barriers and Willingness to Undertake Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Reported by Medical Students Dependent on Their Place of Residence-A Single-Center Study.

Bystander-administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is crucial for the survival of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. However, only roughly 58% of bystanders would provide CPR, with wide variations across different regions. Identifying each factor affecting the barrier or readiness to perform resuscitation is a significant challenge for researchers. This study aimed to evaluate the obstacles preventing first-year medical students from initiating CPR, focusing on the size of domestic residential environments and the time and methodology of practical training. The original online questionnaire surveyed first-year medical students at the Medical University of Łódź from February 1 to March 2, 2024. The questionnaire development involved a literature review, expert evaluation, and pilot testing. Participation was voluntary and anonymous, with strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data were analyzed using PQStat software, employing descriptive statistics. The study revealed that 271 medical students reported a similar median of barriers regardless of the place of residence (median (Me) = 5, interquartile range (IQR) 2-6.25 vs. Me = 4, IQR 3-6 vs. Me = 4, IQR 3-6, p = 0.620). Out of 18 analyzed barriers, the only significant difference was found for crowded places. Medical students living in cities most frequently reported a willingness to perform CPR with rescue breaths for all victims. Those who grew up in towns <100,000 residents were less willing to start CPR if an unknown adult were the victim (rural area: 39.2% vs. town: 17.6% vs. city: 45.1%, p < 0.01). The number of reported barriers was similar regardless of training type and the time since training; however, the nature of these barriers varied after a year passed. Respondents across various locations reported similar number and types of barriers to performing CPR, including the most commonly declared fear of harm, uncertainty about recognizing cardiac arrest, and concerns about disease transmission. Although differences connected to the type of victims were observed, its low or moderate practical significance needs more comprehensive research on the impact of the size of the place of residence on the willingness to perform resuscitation and the related barriers.

Decoding Interpersonal Communication Patterns among Climate Disaster Victims: A Case Study of 2024 Glacier Burst Floods in Kumrat Valley, Pakistan

Aim of the Study: This study based on interpersonal communication patterns among the climate disaster victims during and after floods induced by glacier burst during 2024 in Kumrat Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan. It has examined the interpersonal interactions among the directly-affected (living downstream) and indirectly-affected people (living upstream) in the region. Methodology: The researchers adopted participant observation, a qualitative research method. The population of the study was glacier burst victims in Kumrat Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The researchers adopted purposive sampling and approached the study sample in the localities of Kalkot, Doon Seri, and Thall villages in the Kumrat Valley. The researchers reached data saturation level after conducting semi-structured interviews of ten (10) individuals, who were directly affected by the glacier burst. Findings: The study findings reflected that the directly-affected people primarily communicated to each other to ensure their safety and survival, whereas indirectly-affected individuals utilized it to rescue victims and provide them shelter, food and medicine. Post-disaster communication strategies among both type of victims included stress mitigation and emotional support, and collective conscious for recovery efforts. Conclusion: The common patterns emphasized restoration of infrastructure, access to external markets, and fostering resilience through awareness on climate change and its mitigation. The study has also put forth its recommendations that include strengthening telecommunication infrastructure, localized early cautioning systems, communal training in emergency response, psychological wellbeing initiatives, and awareness campaigns on sustainable practices.

Trustworthiness, Trust, and Immigrants’ Willingness to Call the Police

ABSTRACT We know that trust in police promotes public willingness to contact the police. We also know that immigrants tend to trust the police less than non-immigrants. In this paper we examine police trustworthiness and immigrants’ trust in police among a sample of immigrants who report being a victim of crime. Specifically, we consider the roles of procedural justice and police effectiveness (i.e. two elements of police trustworthiness) in building immigrants’ trust in police and the subsequent impact this trust has on their willingness to call the police in the future. Drawing on survey data of Vietnamese and Middle Eastern Muslim immigrants in Australia who have been the victim of personal and/or property crimes (N = 355) we find that both measures of police trustworthiness (procedural justice and police effectiveness) are related to immigrants’ willingness to contact the police via the mediating mechanism of trust in police. We also find that results vary depending on victimization type.

Genetic and environment influences on childhood victimization: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Childhood victimization is a key risk factor for poor mental and physical health. In order to prevent childhood victimization, it is important to better understand its underlying etiological factors. Childhood victimization is not randomly distributed in the population but occurs more often in the context of certain characteristics of the child, the family, and the broader environment. These characteristics may be both genetically and environmentally influenced, making genetically informative designs valuable to disentangle the etiological factors. Here we performed meta-analyses of the genetic and environmental influences on childhood victimization based on twin studies. We also tested whether genetic and environmental influences on childhood victimization vary depending on key features of victimization experiences including the reporter of victimization experiences, the type of victimization, and the age at exposure. Following PRISMA guidelines, a search for relevant literature was conducted using MEDLINE, APA PsycInfo, and Embase databases until September 2023. A meta-analysis based on 21 studies with 62,794 participants showed that genetic influences accounted for 40% of the variance in childhood victimization, shared environmental influences for 20%, and non-shared environmental influences for 40%. In addition, we found that genetic and environmental influences on victimization varied based on the reporter and the type of victimization, and the age at victimization. The quantitative summary of genetic and environmental influences provided by this study advances our understanding of the mechanisms underlying risk for childhood victimization and points to prevention targets for victimization and its health effects.

중학생의 현실세계 학교폭력 피해 유형과 사이버폭력 피해 유형 간 전이 양상 및 심리적 특성

The purpose of this study is to analyze the cause and effect transition relationship between middle school students' experiences in school violence and cyber violence, and to identify differences in psychological characteristics by type of cyber violence victims. To this end, latent transition analysis was conducted with middle school students' data collected in 2018 from a survey on the status of children and youth human rights. According to the analysis, the types of school violence victims and cyber violence victims were classified into four groups each. Forty percent of students in groups experiencing different types of school violence at high-level experience similarly violence in cyberspace. Students who have experienced sexual harassment-oriented damage in cyberspace have the highest levels of drop-out impulse, suicide impulse, depression and anxiety, and the lowest level of self-esteem and satisfaction in life. Based on these findings, implications were derived and discussed.

Suicidal behavior among forensic psychiatric patients in Japan: Risk factors and implications for treatment.

In Japan, the Medical Treatment and Supervision Act (MTSA) was enacted in 2005 to provide intensive interventions aimed at reintegrating forensic psychiatric patients into society. However, these individuals face challenges with social reintegration and have an elevated risk of suicide. Therefore, identifying the risk factors for suicide among forensic psychiatric patients is essential. We compiled an extensive database spanning 12 years of data on Japanese forensic outpatients. Using a generalized linear model (GLM), we explored the relationship between suicidal behaviors-both attempted and completed suicides-and several variables, including outpatient pathways defined by law, histories of psychiatric outpatient/inpatient treatment, diagnoses of schizophrenia or mood disorders, types of crimes committed, and the types of victims involved. Our analysis included data from 2,263 Japanese forensic outpatients. Suicidal behaviors were observed in 6.9% of patients, with 1.5% completing suicide. Risk factors for suicidal behavior included being a direct outpatient (odds ratio [OR] = 1.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.14-2.34), having a history of outpatient treatment (OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.07-3.48), and being arrested for arson (OR = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.33-3.76). Conversely, a diagnosis of schizophrenia was associated with a reduced risk of suicidal behavior (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.39-0.95). Forensic psychiatric patients are at a higher risk of suicide compared to the general population. It is essential to account for both risk and protective factors when planning interventions for these individuals.

Harms and Consequences of Victimization

To meaningfully measure crime and track increases and decreases in public safety, some criminologists have argued for the need to focus on the harms associated with crime rather than counts of the number of crimes. Although numerous other countries have established crime harm indexes, the United States continues to rely heavily on traditional approaches to enumerating crime and to focus primarily on crimes reported to police. This article sets out to examine the harms and consequences of violence as assessed by the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). We provide a descriptive assessment of the physical and social-emotional harms associated with experiencing a violent victimization and use this incident-level information to create an index that moves from simple enumeration to a fuller accounting of harm. We compare harm levels and trends over time to crime counts and by various crime and victim types. We examine how these harms are associated with help-seeking behavior, including reporting to the police and victim assistance. Our aim is to demonstrate how incident-based information about harms can provide additional information about the magnitude of crime and victim help-seeking behavior.

Traditional and Online Bullying Victimization Among School-going Adolescents: The Role of Sociodemographic Factors

Background: Bullying in school is a vital issue as researchers increasingly find that it can be detrimental to students’ well-being and academic excellence. From an ecological systems theory perspective, examining school bullying reveals that numerous psychosocial factors influence student behavior. Hence, the present study aims to investigate the role of sociodemographics—at the individual (age, gender), microsystem and mesosystem (grade level, school type), exosystem (region), macrosystem (socioeconomic status), and chronosystem (shift from traditional to virtual classroom during COVID-19) levels—in the victimization of traditional and online bullying. Methods: After obtaining ethical clearance, an online survey form was deployed to collect sociodemographic information and assess traditional and online bullying victimization among 120 school-going adolescents from the Southern regions of India. Results: A linear regression analysis showed age and region (urban and rural) predicting traditional and online victimization, respectively. Other sociodemographic factors of gender, school type, and grade level did not predict either victimization type. Conclusions: Sociodemographic factors play a significant role in the victimization experiences of students both in traditional and online.

A new type of victim? Profiling survivors of modern slavery in the online scam industry in Southeast Asia

A new type of victim? Profiling survivors of modern slavery in the online scam industry in Southeast Asia

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.

More Than Just a “Bad” Online Experience: Risk Factors and Characteristics of Catfishing Fraud Victimization

ABSTRACT Research focusing specifically on people who have been catfished online, or deceived in some way, but maybe not defrauded out of money is relatively scarce. The current study sought to add to the literature in this area by surveying social media and dating application users about their catfishing victimization experiences (n=1,511). Fourty-four percent had been catfished in the last 5 years. Common characteristics of those who had been catfished include the catfish reaching out first, a short duration of communication, and asking for money, among other characteristics. The lifestyles/routine activities (LRAT) framework and self-control were utilized to examine potential risk factors for catfishing victimization. Both online and offline behaviors were found to influence catfishing risk, suggesting the LRAT can be applied to this type of victimization. Implications for policy application and prevention of catfishing fraud are discussed.

Effects of Intimate Partner Violence-Related Strangulation on Women Who Report a Disability and Received Forensic Nursing Services.

Data on effects of strangulation in victims with a disability are lacking despite this population experiencing intimate partner violence at higher rates than women without a disability. A retrospective review was conducted on medical records of patients seeking care at a community-based, forensic nurse examiner program following an intimate partner violence-related strangulation event. The presence of disability was not associated with differences in reporting other types of victimization, additional abusive events, perpetrator characteristics, strangulation actions, or injury findings. Patients with a disability were more likely to report experiencing anoxic, hypoxic, and other physical symptoms following strangulation compared to patients without a disability.

International Prevalence of Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence Against Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

The aim of the present review was to systematically identify and examine current knowledge regarding the frequency of any form of technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) perpetrated against women aged 16 years and older. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist was applied when performing the present review. Observational studies reporting prevalence data for any form of TFSV against women aged 16 years and above were considered for inclusion. Four meta-analyses were conducted. One examined data pertaining to overall TFSV, while the other three each addressed a key dimension based on the type of victimization under study. Random-effects models were used to compute pooled estimate prevalences (95% CI). Included studies reported prevalence in 32 different countries at different time points, with 28,220 women being interviewed (16-97 years). A total of 1,437 potential articles were gathered from 8 databases and 17 studies were selected for analysis. Included studies exhibited a low risk of bias (12 strong methodological quality-5 medium). Rates of TFSV ranged from 2.2% to 84%. Global estimated prevalence was 30.60% (95% CI [24.08, 37.12]). The most frequently reported behaviors pertained to "digital sexual harassment" (28.54%) followed by "technology-facilitated aggression and coercion" (16.93%) and "image-based sexual abuse" (6.48%). Present findings shed light on a significant gap in understanding the experiences of adult women. The wide range of reported frequencies underscores the importance of unifying terms and standardizing measurement instruments, emphasizing the need for a cohesive approach to better comprehend and address the multifaceted nature of TFSV.

Fatal road traffic accidents and injuries: a preliminary study.

Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are a major public health problem globally and cause deaths, disability, and significant economic costs. In Italy, there was an increased number of road accidents, deaths, and injuries in 2022 compared to 2021, although still below pre-pandemic levels. A retrospective observational study was performed on a case series of 53 consecutive fatal RTAs examined by the Section of Forensic Medicine of Verona. The case series was divided, according to the type of victims involved, into pedestrians, car drivers, car passengers, and motorcyclists. For each, the times and causes of death, the distribution of external and internal injuries, and toxicological data were analysed, and the results were compared with those in the literature. Although this is a preliminary study on a small case series and lacks statistical validation, so more cases are needed, the preliminary results seem to provide a useful tool for assessing injuries in complex fatal road accidents.

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.