Class Of Victims Research Articles

Bullying types and roles in early adolescence: Latent classes of perpetrators and victims

Although research has suggested that youth involved in bullying as victims, perpetrators, or both are at risk for negative outcomes, less work has investigated different patterns in how youth are involved in bullying with consideration for both the role (i.e., victimization and perpetration) as well as type of behaviors experienced (i.e., cyber, verbal, relational, and physical). Using Latent Class Analysis (LCA), the current study investigated patterns of bullying involvement with a sample of 799 middle school students. Results indicated that five classes of bully-involved youth emerged, including a (a) not involved class, (b) traditional bully victim class, (c) verbal bully-victim class, (d) traditional victim-only class, and (e) cyber bully-victim class. Notably, the bully-involved groups demonstrated significantly more internalizing, externalizing, and school related problems than youth not involved in bullying. Implications regarding identification of youth at risk for social and emotional challenges and intervention planning for bully involved youth are discussed.

Victimization Typologies Among a Large National Sample of Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents.

Purpose: The overall objective of this study was to examine the hypothesis that victimization exposure among sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth would result in different latent classes and that victimization exposure class membership would relate to demographic, SGM-specific risk and protective factors, and health variables. Methods: Between April 2017 and December 2017, SGM youth (N = 17,112) aged 13-17 years completed self-report online surveys as part of the LGBTQ National Teen Survey. Data were analyzed between August 2020 and November 2020. Results: Three classes emerged: (1) no victimization exposure, (2) sexual harassment and bullying, and (3) poly-victimization (sexual victimization, sexual harassment, SGM-based bullying, and non-SGM bullying). The results demonstrated that victimization experiences co-occur disproportionately in vulnerable subpopulations of SGM youth, including those who identify as transgender or other gender minority, who are experiencing stigma-related stress and family rejection, and who had disclosed their sexual orientation to family members/parents. SGM youth who reported a diversity of strengths seemed to be protected against victimization. Finally, SGM youth in the sexual harassment and bullying class and the poly-victimization class were more likely to report depressive symptoms, self-perceived stress, and substance use than were SGM youth in the no victimization class, regardless of sex assigned at birth. Conclusion: These findings underscore the urgency with which affirmative prevention and intervention initiatives are needed for SGM youth to reduce risk factors for and correlates of victimization experiences. The data also underscore the importance of addressing SGM-specific risk and protective factors as part of comprehensive violence-related initiatives.

Physical and sexual victimization class membership and alcohol misuse and consequences among sexual minority and heterosexual female youth.

Evidence demonstrates sexual orientation disparities in physical and sexual victimization and alcohol misuse and consequences among female youth; however, most extant research has used variable-centered approaches. The current study used latent class analysis (LCA), a person-centered approach, to: (1) model female youths' physical and sexual victimization; (2) examine sexual orientation disparities in physical and sexual victimization latent class membership; (3) and use physical and sexual victimization latent class membership to predict female youths' engagement in alcohol misuse and related consequences. Participants were 7,185 youth assigned female sex at birth (77.0% heterosexual, 12.8% bisexual, 2.3% gay or lesbian; 46.8% racial minority) in grades 9 - 12 who completed the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey - a school-based, cross-sectional survey. LCA uncovered four classes: (1) "Poly-Victimization Class," (2) "No Victimization Class," (3) "Past-Year Sexual Victimization Class," and (4) "Lifetime Rape Class." Sexual orientation emerged as a significant predictor of class membership. Latent classes 3 and 4 were uniquely associated with alcohol misuse and consequences (i.e., binge drinking, riding with a drinking driver, and drinking and driving) among female youth. Our findings help to elucidate the patterns of physical and sexual victimization regarding timeline, tactic used, and context among female youth; sexual orientation disparities in latent class membership; and alcohol misuse correlates of class membership. Prevention efforts aimed at reducing physical and sexual victimization may ultimately reduce female youths' risk of binge drinking, riding with drinking drivers, and drinking and driving.

Peer victimization and relationships to approach and avoidance coping to health and health behaviors

Peer victimization during high school is a common experience associated with engagement in risky health behaviors and elevated depressive symptoms. Mechanisms linking peer victimization to health outcomes remain inadequately understood. In the current study, latent class analysis was used to identify latent subclasses of college students who display similar patterns of responses to frequent peer victimization experiences during high school. We also examined moderating and mediating effects of coping (approach/avoidance) on relationships between victimization class and health outcomes (i.e., binge drinking, current smoking, depressive symptoms). College students completed questionnaire measures of peer victimization, approach and avoidance coping, binge drinking, smoking, and depressive symptoms. Four distinct patterns of peer victimization were identified among college students (Low, High, Moderate, and Social/Verbal). Moderation models revealed significant interactions of moderate victimization x approach coping on depressive symptoms and high victimization x avoidance coping on binge drinking. Mediation models revealed a significant indirect effect of avoidance coping on depressive symptoms for those in the high victimization class. Findings provide a greater understanding of the complex patterns of peer victimization. Coping efforts among varying peer victimization classes had different relationships with health outcomes during the college years. Interventions aimed at reducing health-risk and depressive symptoms among college student might benefit from increased attention to high school victimization experiences and current coping processes. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/08964289.2021.1946468 .

Examining Associations Between Race, Gender, Alcohol Use, School Performance, and Patterns of Bullying in the School Context: A Latent Class Analysis.

Although many studies addressed bullying occurrence and its associations, they often use individual variables constructed from few items that probably are inadequate to evaluate bullying severity and type. We aimed to identify involvement patterns in bullying victimization and perpetration, and its association with alcohol use, school performance, and sociodemographic variables. Baseline assessment of a randomized controlled trial were used and a latent class analysis was conducted to identify bullying patterns among 1,742 fifth-grade and 2,316 seventh-grade students from 30 public schools in São Paulo, Brazil. Data were collected using an anonymous self-reported, audio-guided questionnaire completed by the participants on smartphones. Multinomial logistic regressions were performed to verify how covariant variables affected bullying latent classes. Both grades presented the same four latent classes: low bullying, moderate bullying victimization, high bullying victimization, and high bullying victimization and perpetration. Alcohol use was associated with all bullying classes in both grades, with odds ratio up to 5.36 (95% CI 3.05; 10.38) among fifth graders from the high bullying victimization and perpetration class. Poor school performance was also strongly associated with this class (aOR = 10.12, 95%CI = 4.19; 24.41). Black/brown 5th graders were 3.35 times more likely to fit into the high bullying victimization class (95% CI 1.34; 8.37). Lack of evidence for association of sociodemographic variables and bullying latent class among seventh-grade students was found. Bullying and alcohol use are highly harmful behaviors that must be prevented. However, prevention programs should consider how racial and gender issues are influencing the way students experience violence.

Accident and Design: Recognising Victims of Aggression in International Law

International law has not traditionally recognised individuals as victims of the crime of aggression. Recent developments may precipitate a departure from this approach. The activation of the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court over the crime of aggression opens the way for the future application of the Court’s regime of victim participation and reparation in the context of prosecutions for this crime. The determination by the United Nations Human Rights Committee in General Comment No. 36 that any deprivation of life resulting from an act of aggression violates Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights serves to recognise a previously overlooked class of victims. This article explores these recent developments, by discussing their background, meaning and implications for international law and the rights of victims.

ACCIDENT AND DESIGN: RECOGNISING VICTIMS OF AGGRESSION IN INTERNATIONAL LAW

AbstractInternational law has not traditionally recognised individuals as victims of the crime of aggression. Recent developments may precipitate a departure from this approach. The activation of the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court over the crime of aggression opens the way for the future application of the Court's regime of victim participation and reparation in the context of prosecutions for this crime. The determination by the United Nations Human Rights Committee in General Comment No. 36 that any deprivation of life resulting from an act of aggression violates Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights serves to recognise a previously overlooked class of victims. This article explores these recent developments, by discussing their background, meaning and implications for international law and the rights of victims.

School bullying victimization and perpetration among Chinese adolescents: A latent class approach

Understanding the unique patterns of school bullying involvement among adolescents is critical to developing efficient interventions for reducing school violence. The present study identifies latent classes of school bullying victimization and perpetration, focusing on traditional and cyberbullying among student peer networks. Data came from a national school bullying survey (N = 3,675) among students from 4th grade (primary school) to 12th grade (high school) across seven provinces in Mainland China. Latent class models identified latent subgroups of students by gender (1,903 females and 1,772 males) using four binary indicators: traditional bullying victimization, cyberbullying victimization, traditional bullying perpetration, and cyberbullying perpetration. We found four distinct latent classes for both genders, respectively. Three classes emerged in both male and female students (1) traditional and cyberbullying perpetrator-victims, (2) traditional bullying victims, and (3) minimal involvement. Although a bullying perpetrator class was identified in both male and female groups, male students in this class had a high probability of engaging in both traditional and cyberbullying behaviors against their school peers, whereas the bullying perpetrator class emerged in the female group was mainly involved only in traditional bullying. The findings revealed gender similarities and differences in the patterns of school bullying involvement in Chinese adolescents. In addition, covariates significantly associated with school bullying patterns included (a) attending boarding school, (b) level of schooling (e.g., primary, middle, and high school), and (c) self-perceived academic performance. Recommendations for school bullying interventions and future research directions are discussed.

Longitudinal Associations Between Sexual Victimization and Substance Misuse Among High School Youth in Colorado.

There are consistently high rates of sexual victimization and substance misuse among youth in the United States. Although there is a known relation between sexual victimization and substance use, there is a gap in the research regarding the magnitude and temporality of these associations. This study examined whether latent classes of sexual victimization and help-seeking attitudes longitudinally predict intentions of future substance misuse 7-10 months later. Students from nine Colorado high schools (N = 533; M = age 16 years) completed surveys across two consecutive school semesters. Latent class analysis was used to identify classes of students who experienced at least one form of sexual victimization (e.g., sexual harassment, unwanted sexual contact) according to 13 sexual victimization items, and level of positive attitudes regarding help-seeking for sexual victimization. Classes were compared on demographic characteristics and for distal outcomes of likelihood of future substance misuse (cigarettes, alcohol, cannabis, prescription drugs, and electronic vaping products) using latent class regression, controlling for previous intentions to use. At Time 1, four classes of sexual victimization were identified with two main classes for comparison: low odds of experiencing sexual victimization (60.1% of sample) and high odds of endorsing all forms of sexual victimization (7.7% of sample). The high sexual victimization class had higher proportions of male and transgender students, compared to other classes. At Time 2 (7-10 months later), students in the high sexual victimization class reported a significantly greater likelihood of future cigarette (p = .017) and prescription drug misuse (p = .007) when compared to the low sexual victimization class. There was no evidence that having higher positive attitudes towards help-seeking resulted in lower intentions to use substances in the future. These findings highlight that addressing sexual violence in prevention programming may have crossover effects of reducing substance misuse and other forms of violence among youth.

Effects of homophobic name-calling and verbal sexual harassment on substance use among young adults.

Verbal aggression victimization, such as homophobic name-calling, has been linked to heavier substance use among young people, but little longitudinal research has examined how different types of victimization may affect substance use or whether certain psychosocial factors moderate these risks. In a diverse cohort (N = 2,663),latent transition analysis was used to model heterogeneity in victimization (age 19) and substance use (age 20). Four victimization (high victimization, homophobic name-calling only, verbal sexual harassment only, and low victimization) and three substance use (poly-substance use, alcohol, and cannabis only, low all) classes were identified. The high victimization and homophobic name-calling only classes had the highest probabilities of transitioning into the poly-substance use class, and the high victimization class had the highest probability of transitioning into the alcohol and cannabis only class. The probability of transitioning into the low all substance use class was highest in the low victimization class and lowest in the high victimization class. For the high victimization class, greater depressive symptoms increased the odds, and better peer relationship quality decreased the odds, of transitioning into the poly-substance use and alcohol and cannabis only classes. For the homophobic name-calling only class, greater depressive symptoms increased the odds of transitioning into the poly-substance use class. Homophobic name-calling, alone or in combination with verbal sexual harassment, is a risk factor for escalating substance use in young adulthood, especially among victims with depressive symptoms.

Mass Tort Anticommons and the Bankruptcy Superposition

Mass torts create a unique scale of harm and liabilities. Corporate tortfeasors are desperate to settle claims but condition settlement upon resolution of substantially all claims at a known price – commonly referred to as a global settlement. Without this, corporate tortfeasors are willing to continue with protracted and fragmented litigation across jurisdictions. Global settlements can be elusive in these cases. Mass torts are oftentimes characterized by non-homogenous victim groups that include both current victims and unknown, future victims – individuals whose harm has not yet manifested and may not do so for years. Despite this incongruence, the claims of these future victims must be aggregated as part of any global settlement. This is the tragedy of the mass tort anticommons: without unanimity, victim groups are unable to access settlement resources in a timely or meaningful way, but actual coordination across the group can be impossible. Current resolution structures have proven ill-equipped to efficiently and equitably address the novel challenges posed by mass torts. Many cases cannot satisfy Rule 23’s requirements for class action certification. Multidistrict litigation is the most frequently invoked resolution structure, but the MDL process is distorted. The process was initially designed for one district court to streamline pretrial procedures before remanding cases for adjudication. Instead, MDL courts have turned into captive settlement negotiations. In response, a new strategy for resolving modern mass torts has emerged. Corporate tortfeasors – including Purdue Pharma, Boy Scouts of America, and USA Gymnastics – have started filing for bankruptcy. These mass restructurings automatically halt the affected MDL cases and transfer proceedings to a bankruptcy court – a process I describe as bankruptcy preemption. Unfortunately, bankruptcy preemption replaces one deficient structure with another. Mass restructuring debtors are exploiting statutory gaps in the Bankruptcy Code in order to bind victims through an unpredictable, ad hoc structure. The new bargain creates myriad risks, including insolvent settlement trusts and disparate treatment across victim classes. This Article is the first to attempt a reconceptualization of how modern mass torts should be resolved and delivers an unprecedented normative construct focused on addressing anticommons dynamics through statutory amendments to the Bankruptcy Code. These changes, coupled with an evolved perspective on fundamental structural anomalies, are designed to improve predictability, efficiency, and victim recoveries. More broadly, this Article attempts to animate scholarly debate of this new, non-class aggregate litigation strategy that will reshape the field.

Lifetime Interpersonal Victimization Profiles and Mental Health Problems in a Nationally Representative Panel of Trauma-Exposed Adults From the United Kingdom.

Traumatic event exposure has been associated with negative psychological outcomes. There is, however, a dearth of research on revictimization. The current study examined patterns of lifetime interpersonal victimization based on six types of childhood maltreatment, physical and sexual assault, and assault with a weapon during adulthood via latent class analysis (LCA), with gender as covariate. Using a three-step approach, we assessed differences across the latent classes in symptoms and diagnosis of depression, anxiety, and DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A trauma-exposed adult sample representative of the United Kingdom population (N = 1,051) was recruited online through a research panel. The mean participant age 47.18 years (SD = 15.00, range: 18-90 years; 68.4% female). The LCA identified five classes: lifetime polyvictimization (8.3%; 69.5% female), sexual revictimization (13.7%; 96.5% female), physical revictimization (12.5%; 1.5% male), childhood trauma (25.9%; 85.6% female), and limited victimization (39.7%; 40.3% female). Compared to the other classes, the polyvictimization class, followed by the childhood trauma class, demonstrated the highest scores on anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress symptoms. The polyvictimization class had nearly a nine- to 33-fold increase in risk of depression, OR = 9.48, 95% CI [3.34, 26.87]; anxiety, OR = 12.10, 95% CI [5.36, 27.36]; and PTSD diagnoses, OR = 33.63, 95% CI [16.35, 69.43], compared to the limited victimization class. The findings facilitate the identification of individuals at risk for revictimization and indicate that evidence-based clinical interventions should be targeted toward those with exposure to revictimization and childhood trauma exposure to alleviate mental health challenges.

The Classification of Victimization Classes among Adolescents and the Correlates

본 연구는 우리나라 청소년들이 경험하는 다양한 폭력피해 경험의 잠재유형을 분류하고 유형별 예측변인을 살펴보는 것을 목적으로 하였다. 한국청소년정책연구원의 2019년 아동·청소년인권실태조사 자료를 활용하여 양육자나 교사의 물리적, 언어적 폭력 및 방임, 학교에서의 따돌림을 포함한 또래간의 폭력, 온라인상의 폭력과 오프라인에서의 성폭력 등 청소년이 경험할 수 있는 다양한 유형의 폭력피해 경험을 잠재집단분석을 통해 유형화하였다. 또한, 개인, 가정, 학교 및 지역사회 특성을 고려하여 각 잠재유형의 예측변인을 밝히고자 하였다. 연구결과는 첫째, 청소년들의 폭력피해 경험 잠재유형은 양육자 폭력피해 집단, 양육자 및 교사 폭력피해 집단, 다중폭력피해집단, 무피해 집단으로 분류되었다. 둘째, 폭력피해 집단에 따라 상이한 예측변인들이 발견되었는데 양육자 폭력피해 집단의 경우 학업성적, 양육자 및 교사 폭력피해 집단의 경우 교사와의 관계 및 지역사회 안전도, 그리고 다중폭력피해 집단의 경우 또래 및 교사 관계 및 학교에서의 의사결정 참여였다. 셋째, 모든 폭력피해 집단에 대해 공통적으로 영향을 미치는 예측변인들도 발견되었으며 우울 및 가정에서 의사결정 참여가 그러하였고 성별, 학년, 주관적 건강상태 등도 두 개 이상의 폭력피해 집단에 영향을 미쳤다. 연구결과를 바탕으로 청소년 폭력피해의 예방과 개입 방안을 논의하였다.This study aimed to classify victimization experiences among adolescents and to reveal the predictors of the classes. Data from 2019 National Survey on the Rights of Children and Youth of Korean Youth Policy Institute were analyzed using latent class analysis. The results showed four classes of victimization-victimization by caregivers, victimization by caregivers and teachers, poly-victimization, and no victimization. The classes had both different and same predictors. School achievement was associated with victimization by caregivers. Relationship with teachers and community safety were associated with victimization by caregivers and teachers. Relationship with both peers and teachers, and participation in decision-making at school were associated with poly-victimization. Depression and participation in decision-making at home were associated with all three victimization classes. Gender, age, health, and participation in the community were also important predictors. Based on the results, it was discussed how to prevent and intervene victimization among adolescents.

Patterns of Bullying Victimization and Associations with Mental Health Problems in Chinese Adolescents: A Latent Class Analysis.

Bullying victimization in school students is a serious public health concern and has been linked to a wide range of mental health problems. The current study aims to examine patterns of involvement in different types of bullying victimization among Chinese adolescents and evaluate the associations between bullying victimization and mental health problems. Cross-sectional data from 20,722 middle school students from Guangdong Province were sampled using a multistage, stratified cluster-randomized sampling method. Latent class analysis (LCA) was performed on seven items representing bullying victimization. Levels of mental health outcomes were compared across each latent class. Four latent classes were identified for boys: the high victimization class (0.6%), the moderate victimization class (2.8%), the verbal victimization class (12.4%), and the low victimization class (84.2%). For girls, three latent classes were identified: the high victimization class (0.7%), the moderate victimization class (5.6%), and the low victimization class (93.7%). Characteristics of the item probabilities were different between boys and girls. For both genders, a graded relationship was found between bullying victimization class membership and mental health outcomes. These findings underline the complexity of bullying victimization patterns among Chinese adolescents. Students with higher involvement in bullying victimization have more severe mental health problems.

Comparison of Crime Victimization between Urban and Rural Adolescents: Focusing on the Victimization rate, Severity of Victimization, and Latent Classes of victimization

청소년 범죄피해에 있어서 도시와 농촌의 차이에 주목하여 범죄유형별 피해율과 피해심각성, 피해자의 대응차이 및 피해의 잠재계층 유형을 비교하였다. 2014년 청소년범죄피해조사(홍영오·연성진, 2014)를 2차 자료로 활용하였고, 학교소재지를 기준으로 대도시, 중소도시 및 읍·면으로 구분하였다. 먼저 피해율의 경우에는 전체적으로 도시와 농촌의 차이가 크지 않았으나 대도시 청소년의 폭력과 금품갈취의 피해율이 상대적으로 낮았고 대도시와 중소도시 남자청소년의 가정학대 피해율이 읍·면 거주 남자청소년 피해율에 비해 높은 차이가 있었다. 피해심각성에 있어서는 폭행의 피해심각성이 읍·면 청소년에게서 훨씬 더 중한 반면 가벼운 성추행 피해 심각성은 중소도시가 가장 중하고 대도시, 읍·면의 순서였다. 피해자의 대처에서도 지역차이가 있는지를 비교하였는데 재산범죄피해의 신고율이 대도시에서 약간 더 높았다. 지역별 피해 잠재집단 분석에서는 성별 차이를 발견하였다. 남자 청소년은 지역에 따른 피해의 잠재집단 유형차이가 거의 없어 모든 지역에서 피해위험집단과 무피해 집단의 2개로 구분되었다. 반면, 여자 청소년의 범죄피해 잠재유형은 지역차이가 뚜렷하게 나타났다. 대도시는 또래피해의 고위험 집단이 재산·사이버피해·가정학대의 저위험 집단과 구분되는 반면, 중소도시에서는 피해고위험 집단과 피해 저위험 집단, 사이버피해 고위험집단으로 구분되는 차이가 있었다. 반면 읍·면 여자 청소년은 피해 잠재집단의 유형이 읍·면의 남자청소년과 유사하게 나타나, 읍·면 지역에서의 청소년 범죄피해 잠재유형의 성별 차는 도시지역의 성별 차에 비해 크지 않을 수 있다는 점을 시사하였다.This study compares the difference between urban and rural areas in juvenile crime victimization in terms of victimization rate, severity of victimization, victim s response and latent classes of in victimization. The secondary survey data of Juvenile Crime Victimization 2014 was used for the analysis, and student residences were classified into large cities, small and medium cities, and rural areas based on school location. First, in terms of the victimization rate, the difference between urban and rural areas was not large, but the violent victimization rate and the extortion of the youth in the big city were relatively low. Regarding domestic abuse among male youths, residents of big cities and medium-small cities show higher victimization rate than those of rural. In terms of severity of victimization, assault victimization was much more serious in the youths of rural, whereas the sexual assault was more serious in urban. Reporting rate of property crime victimization was higher in urban big cities than other areas. In the analysis of latent classes of victimization, gender difference was clear. Male youth were divided into two classes, at-risk group and non-victim groups in all three regions. On the other hand, the regional differences were obvious among female youths.

Patterns of Bullying Victimization among Adolescents in China: Based on a Latent Profile Analysis

This study was to explore potential patterns of bullying victimization among adolescents in China. By cluster sampling, Delaware Bullying Victimization Scale-Student (DBVS-S), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (CAD-7) were administered to 3,761 school adolescents in Hunan Province. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted on victimization by verbal, physical, social and cyberbullying. We found that (i) There is a high degree of co-occurrence among four subtypes of bullying victimization. Four latent classes were identified, including an all-type (traditional and cyber) bullying victimization class (1.5%), a traditional victimization class (3.9%), a mild traditional victimization class (14.9%), and a non-victimization class (79.6%). (ii) Males, middle school students, rural students and poor students were more likely to be all types of victims. (iii) There was a graded relationship between the four latent classes and the level of depression as well as anxiety.

Associations of Traditional and Peer Cyber-Victimization With Adolescents’ Internet Use: A Latent Profile Analysis

Significant overlap exists between traditional victimization and peer cyber-victimization. Yet, they can also be somewhat differentiated. Adopting person-centered approaches, studies showed that multiple classes of peer victimization are distinguishable. In particular, this study analyzed the differences in Internet use, Internet motives and behavior and ethical media use of adolescents who are victimized only (or mainly) online (i.e., “cyber-victims”), their peers who are victimized at school (“traditional victims”), students who are frequently victimized both offline and online (“dual victims”), and students who are not victimized. A sample of 1377 Italian adolescents (49.5% females, age M = 16.13, SD = 1.27) completed self-report questionnaires of traditional and peer cyber-victimization and a variety of Internet-related measures. Latent profile analysis yielded four distinct groups: non-victims (79.6% of the sample), traditional victims (9.2%), cyber-victims (9.1%), and dual victims (2.1%). Among the four groups, dual victims, that is, adolescents who are frequently victimized both at school and online, showed the most problematic use of information and communication technologies (ICT). Dual victims and cyber-victims also reported to engage more frequently than the other groups in a variety of Internet activities (e.g., role-playing games and visiting adult sites). Traditional victims reported more coping and conformity motives for using Internet compared to non-victims and, in the latter case, also to cyber-victims. The current findings may help to better understand the link between traditional victimization and peer cyber-victimization with adolescent’s use of information and communication technologies and may inform prevention and educational programs about positive use of new technologies among adolescents.

The Plight of 'Unreasonable' Trafficking Victims: Replacing the Trafficking Victims Protection Act's Reasonable Person Standard for Coercion with a Genuine Belief Standard

Since the enactment of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and its requirement that victims and prosecutors make a showing of coercion under a reasonable person standard, an entire class of victims effectively became unprotected and no longer deemed victims. The inability to meet such a high burden not only produces a lower rate of successful criminal and civil prosecutions, but also—and most alarmingly—precludes many a victim’s participation in basic and highly needed governmental services, required both to cope with and recover from the trauma. The consequences are particularly egregious in the context of domestic servitude, where traffickers successfully rely on the prosecution’s inability to disprove consent. From the perspective of Policy-Oriented Jurisprudence, this article analyzes the conditioning factors leading to the adoption of the reasonable person standard in our trafficking legislation, all relevant judicial, legislative, and executive actions enforcing it. In addition, it criticizes the standard’s conceptual and practical limitations. In the interest of making our anti-trafficking regime better approximate a public order of human dignity and current international.

Influences of victimization and comorbid conditions on substance use disorder outcomes in justice-involved youth: A discrete time survival mixture analysis.

To understand how exposure to victimization during adolescence and the presence of comorbid psychological conditions influence substance use treatment entry and substance use disorder diagnosis from 14 to 25 years old among serious juvenile offenders, this study included 1,354 serious juvenile offenders who were prospectively followed over 7 years. Growth mixture modeling was used to assess profiles of early victimization during adolescence (14-17 years). Discrete time survival mixture analysis was used to assess time to treatment entry and substance use disorder diagnosis. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) were used as predictors of survival time. Mixture models revealed three profiles of victimization: sustained poly-victimization, moderate/decreasing victimization, and low victimization. Youth in the sustained poly-victimization class were more likely to enter treatment earlier and have a substance use diagnosis earlier than other classes. PTSD was a significant predictor of treatment entry for youth in the sustained poly-victimization class, and MDD was a significant predictor of substance use disorder diagnosis for youth in the moderate/decreasing victimization class. Therefore, substance use prevention programming targeted at youth experiencing poly-victimization in early adolescence-especially those who have PTSD or MDD-is needed.

Patterns of Violence Victimization and Perpetration Among Adolescents Using Latent Class Analysis.

Research has identified interpersonal violence (a broad term that includes stalking, harassment, sexual assault, and physical dating violence) as a major problem among adolescents. Research suggests that there are different patterns, or classes, of interpersonal violence victimization and perpetration, but little of this work has focused on adolescents. In the current study, we conducted latent class analysis using a sample of 2,921 adolescent girls and boys in high school from northern New England to assess varying patterns of interpersonal violence victimization and perpetration over the past 2 months, specifically stalking, harassment, sexual assault, and dating violence. Four classes of violence victimization and perpetration were identified: (a) No Victimization or Perpetration class (n = 1,898, 65.0%), (b) Low Victimization and Perpetration class (n = 343, 11.7%), (c) Harassment Victimization Only class (n = 560, 19.2%), and (d) High Victimization and Low Perpetration class (n = 120, 4.1%). Several differences in classes emerged as a function of demographic and behavioral health variables. For example, the High Victimization and Low Perpetration class had the highest proportion of girls and youth with sexual minority status. Furthermore, youth in the High Victimization and Low Perpetration class also had a significantly higher proportion of class members endorsing depressed mood and engagement in binge drinking than the youth in other classes. These findings demonstrate the heterogeneity in patterns of interpersonal violence, which future research should seek to better understand in terms of etiology, outcomes, and best practices for prevention and intervention.