Prevalence and associated factors of poly‐victimization in Chinese adolescents

Abstract

Multiple types of victimization or poly-victimization (PV) can occur simultaneously during childhood, resulting in outcomes that are detrimental and difficult to reverse. Very few studies have focused on PV in Chinese adolescents. The present study is based on information collected from a stratified cluster sample of 1,561 females and 1,594 males aged 12-18 years living in Shandong Province, China. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess background information, the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire was used to measure the extent of victimization and PV, the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders was used to measure anxiety levels, and a Depression Self-rating Scale for Children was used to ascertain depression. A majority of the study sample (66.2%) had experienced at least one form of victimization over the past year. Prevalence of PV was 16.9%, and was significantly higher among males (21.1%) than females (12.5%). Younger ages, one-child families, and lower socioeconomic status were positively associated with PV. Logistic regression analysis indicated that smoking, alcohol consumption, exposure to pornography, and anxiety- and depression-like symptoms were risk factors of PV. Results of this study highlight the need for further exploration of factors related to the PV of Chinese adolescents.

Childhood maltreatment preceding depressive disorder at age 18 years: A prospective Brazilian birth cohort study

“…Girls exposed to two or more types of maltreatment had 4.1 times the odds of major depression compared to girls not exposed, adjusting for confounding variables. Similarly, other studies have also found levels of depression in females increase significantly following poly-maltreatment (Cisler et al, 2012, Dong et al, 2013, du Plessis et al, 2015; Finkelhor et al, 2009; Richmond et al, 2009; Sundermann et al, 2013; Turner et al, 2006). Hence, although different forms of maltreatment often co-exist, it appears they can make unique additional contributions towards increased risk for depression.…”

Gender Differences in Bullying and Victimization Among Early Adolescents in Jordan

“…Many children and adolescents get involved in bullying as bullies or victims at some time during their years of study at the school (Dong, Cao, Cheng, Cui, & Li, 2013;Wei, Chang, & Chen, 2016;Liu, Chen, Hu, Guo, & Xiao, 2017;García & De Paúl Ochotorena, 2017). However, gender differences in bullying and victimization seem to be different from one country to another and from one sample to another.…”

The impact of polyvictimisation on children in LMICs: the case of Jamaica

“…In low and middle income countries (LMICs) such as South Africa and Jamaica, lifetime exposure to at least one form of violence is considerably higher and experienced by almost every child in the samples in these countries (Kaminer, du Plessis, Hardy & Benjamin, 2013;SammsVaughan, Jackson & Ashley, 2005;Samms-Vaughan, in press). However, in some LMICs such as China, the prevalence of exposure to violence is relatively low (Dong, Cao, Cheng, Cui, & Li, 2013). Lifetime polyvictims are defined as the top 10% of those who had multiple experiences of violence, and past year polyvcitims as those who had more than four different exposures (Finkelhor et al, 2009).…”