Child sexual abuse as a risk factor for teen dating violence: Findings from a representative sample of Quebec youth

Factors contributing to online child sexual abuse in Bangladesh: A qualitative inquiry

Background

Children globally, including in Bangladesh, are facing various forms of online sexual abuse including sextortion, exploitation, body shaming, and blackmail. They are also coerced into engaging in intimate activities, harassed through the sending of sexual content, among other forms of abuse. We aimed to explore the root cause of online child sexual abuse (OCSA) in Bangladesh.

Methods

This qualitative research design utilized in-depth interviews (IDIs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) between February and April 2022. The study sample comprised 21 school-going children aged 13-17 years, selected from two different geographical settings (10 from rural areas and 11 from urban areas) in Bangladesh using purposive sampling techniques. They participated in in-depth interviews (IDIs) while additional data was obtained through key informant interviews (KIIs) with 11 multidisciplinary stakeholders.

Results

Children from both rural and urban areas reported facing abuse in various ways, such as being asked to send naked photos, being invited to be naked in video calls, and being invited to have virtual sex, among others, over the internet.

Conclusions

The government should consider integrating OCSA education into secondary levels. Additionally, there should be efforts to ensure a safe online environment through content scrutiny, promotion of outdoor activities, and community campaigns. An anonymous reporting system must be implemented, and strict measures under the Children's Act must be enforced against perpetrators. Further intervention studies are needed to ensure effective child protection measures in Bangladesh.

Secondary and Tertiary Prevention for Adolescent Dating Violence: A Systematic Review

Adolescent dating violence (ADV) is a pervasive public health issue associated with numerous social, psychological, and physical health consequences. Thus, programs are often implemented to prevent ADV and promote healthy relationships. Although there is a growing body of literature on primary ADV prevention strategies (i.e., prevention), little is known about secondary (e.g., early intervention) and tertiary (e.g., manage and reduce impact once occurring) ADV prevention approaches. This systematic review, guided by Cochrane Review methodology, summarizes available evidence on secondary and tertiary ADV preventive interventions. The search had no date restriction and was conducted in eight databases in November 2022. Studies published in English and/or Spanish were included if they described the development, implementation, and/or evaluation of a secondary and/or tertiary preventive intervention for ADV. After screening the titles and abstracts of 3,645 articles, 31 articles were included in this study, reporting on 14 secondary, 3 primary/secondary, 6 secondary/tertiary, and 1 tertiary ADV preventive intervention. The included studies highlighted that available secondary ADV prevention strategies are quite effective in preventing ADV victimization and perpetration, and that the effects may be strongest for teens with a higher risk of being involved in an abusive relationship. The only included study that reported on a tertiary intervention was a program development study. Based on the lack of tertiary prevention strategies available for ADV, clinical interventions focusing on treating and reducing negative consequences after ADV are needed.

"Like A Mouse Pursued By the Snake": A Qualitative Metasynthesis on the Experiences of Revictimization Among Women Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse and Partner Violence

A metasynthesis was performed on 15 qualitative studies to document the experience of revictimization by an intimate partner among women, based on survivors' perspectives on their sustained childhood sexual abuse and intimate partner violence victimization. Results identified two main conceptual categories: (a) Barriers to action: A belief system reflecting learned helplessness that hinders women's abilities to protect themselves and prevent further abuses, and (b) Broken internal compass: Cognitive elements blurring women's risk evaluation capacities and reference points limiting their ability to break the cycle of revictimization. These findings support the need to examine cognitive distortions and false beliefs in intervention practices and suggest valuable guidelines for practitioners. As the responsibility for violence always lies with the perpetrator, this study should not be interpreted as blaming women for their victimization, but instead, as a way to give women a voice about their experiences and give them a sense of power in the prevention of violence.

Promoting Healthy Relationships in Foster Care-"If I Had Seen What a Healthy Relationship Looks Like, that Would Have Changed My Perspective"

High levels of intimate partner violence among youth and young adults with history in foster care can perpetuate the cycle of violence and abuse. It is therefore important to understand how the experience of growing up in foster care impacts youths' understanding and formation of intimate relationships. This qualitative study centered the perspectives of young adults and investigated what they learned about relationships through interactions with foster caregivers and child welfare professionals. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 27 young adults and used Consensual Qualitative Research methods to identify critical experiences in foster care and formulate strategies for promoting healthy relationships.

The Relationship Between Child Sexual Abuse and Sexual Dysfunction in Adults: A Meta-Analysis

Child sexual abuse (CSA) has been recognized as a risk factor for sexual dysfunction and has attracted increasing attention. However, controversies remain regarding related research. The aim is to calculate the pooled effect size estimate for the correlation between CSA and sexual dysfunction in adults by meta-analysis. Five bibliographic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, and PsycINFO) were comprehensively searched to clarify the association between CSA and sexual dysfunction in adults. We used a fixed-effects model to determine the total pooled effect size estimate and reported odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analysis, publication bias analysis, and sensitivity analysis were conducted. Adults who had a history of CSA experienced a higher proportion of sexual dysfunction than adults with no history of CSA (OR = 1.68, 95% CI [1.49, 1.87]). Subgroup analysis showed that women with a history of CSA reported a higher proportion of sexual dysfunction than men with a history of CSA (men: OR = 1.45, 95% CI [1.05, 1.84]; women: OR = 1.62, 95% CI [1.42, 1.83]). The estimates of the effect sizes differed substantially depending on the CSA and sexual dysfunction instruments that were used in each study and the region of each sample. This meta-analysis provides conclusive evidence of an association between CSA and sexual dysfunction in adults. Currently known interventions for the treatment of sexual dysfunction after CSA have only been evaluated in women, so specific interventions should be designed for men CSA survivors who experience sexual impairment.

Evaluation of neuropsychological characteristics and attention bias in juvenile offenders, juvenile victims, and juveniles who have not participated in the criminal justice system

Introduction

The increasing inclusion of children in the criminal justice system as "juvenile offenders" and "juvenile victims" has recently emerged as a severe and multifaceted problem. This study evaluates whether juvenile offenders differ from juveniles who have not participated in the criminal justice system and juvenile victims regarding executive function skills and attentional bias.

Method

The participant group comprised 85 children aged 12-18, and the study setting was Turkey, utilizing one control group and two treatment groups with open criminal case files in Antalya Courthouse. The first treatment group consisted of 30 juvenile offenders; the second consisted of 30 juvenile victims. The control group consisted of 25 juveniles who were not juvenile offenders or victims. In this context, children's executive functions were measured with the short-form Barratt Impulsivity Scale, the Raven Standard Progressive Matrices Test, the TBAG-form Stroop test, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, and the Istanbul 5 Cube Planning Test. Attentional bias was measured using a dot-probe task. Illiteracy, intellectual or developmental disability, and being a non-native Turkish speaker were the exclusion criteria for all three groups.

Results

The study found that the scores of the juvenile offender group on the Barratt Impulsivity Scale were significantly higher than the children in the juvenile victim group and the children in the control group. For other tests measuring executive functions, the control group's scores were significantly higher than juvenile offenders and juvenile victims. Regarding attentional bias, the children in the control group exhibited less attentional bias to negative stimuli than the juvenile offenders and victims.

Discussion

Researchers have generally addressed the reasons that push children to crime and become victims of crime through individual, familial, and environmental reasons. However, the number of studies investigating the neuropsychological characteristics of children dragged into crime is relatively limited in our country. In addition, there is no study comparing the executive functions and attentional bias of children who are dragged into crime, victimized children, and children without a history of being dragged into crime and victimization. In this context, this study can highlight important implications for the judicial system regarding juvenile delinquency interventions.

Victimization among adolescents of female sex workers: findings from the children of at-risk parents (CARP) study in Uganda

BACKGROUND

Female sex workers (FSWs) live and work in high-risk environments, experience high levels of adversity, and have multigenerational trauma that can negatively affect their children. Yet not much is known about the prevalence of victimization (i.e., exposure to maltreatment and trauma) among children of FSWs. This study compared the prevalence of lifetime victimization among adolescents of FSWs and adolescents of non-FSWs in Gulu City, Northern Uganda.

METHODS

A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents (10-17 years) enrolled in the Children of At-Risk Parents (CARP) study. This study included 147 adolescents of FSWs and 147 adolescents of non-FSWs selected for comparison in Gulu City, Northern Uganda. The adolescents of FSWs were identified through their mothers using respondent-driven sampling. Data on the residence of FSWs guided a proportionate stratified sampling of adolescents of non-FSWs. Using the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire, we screened for 34 different types of victimization during participants' lifetimes. Percentage point differences within groups of adolescents and comparison between adolescents of FSWs and non-FSWs were calculated using STATA version 14.1. Statistical significance was set to p < 0.05.

RESULTS

99.3% of the participants experienced at least one form of lifetime victimization. The median number of lifetime victimizations was 12.4. Overall, lifetime victimization was higher among adolescents of FSWs than non-FSWs (13.4 vs. 11.5), male vs. female adolescents (13.4 vs. 11.9), and older [14-17 years] vs. younger (10-13 years) adolescents (14.0 vs. 11.7). Further, more adolescents of FSWs experienced lifetime victimization in the following domains and subdomains, all of which were statistically significant: kidnap (15.8% vs. 4.8%), emotional abuse (65.8% vs. 50.0%), emotional neglect (37.4% vs. 21.1%), physical intimidation (10.2% vs. 4.1%), relational aggression (36.4% vs. 18.4%), verbal aggression (68.7% vs. 46.9%), sexual victimization (31.3% vs. 17.7%), verbal sexual harassment (20.4% vs. 5.4%), exposure to murder scene (42.9% vs. 26.5%), witness to domestic violence (39.5% vs. 26.5%), and witness to the murder of relatives (31.3% vs. 21.1%). Conversely, more adolescents of non-FSWs experienced caregiver victimization than the adolescents of FSWs (98.0 vs. 92.5; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Childhood victimization is highly prevalent in Northern Uganda and disproportionately affects the adolescents of FSWs. Therefore, government and development partners should urgently develop policies and interventions targeting prevention, early detection, and timely management of victimization in this vulnerable population.

Gender and role associations between domestic violence during childhood and dating violence: Victimization among male college students mediated through violence justification beliefs

BACKGROUND

Although the victimization experiences of male college students in dating relationships are gaining increasing scholarly attention, there is still limited empirical evidence and theoretical understanding of the mechanism through which male victims of domestic violence experience subsequent dating violence.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to gain a deeper understanding of the specific mechanisms through which male victimization of domestic violence during childhood transmits to dating violence experience in adulthood. Whether the intergenerational transmission of violence may be explained by gendered pathways or by male participants' identification with the victim's position will be tested.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

Participants included 526 South Korean male college students in Seoul.

METHODS

Child abuse, witnessing interparental violence, and beliefs justifying and accepting violence were divided based on the gender of the offender and victim to assess distinct effects. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to evaluate the relationships between dating violence victimization and child abuse/witnessing interparental violence and the mediation effect of beliefs justifying violence in the relationships between the variables.

RESULTS

Both paternal and maternal abuse have significant direct relationships with male dating violence victimization. Witnessing mother-to-father violence had a significant and direct relationship with male victimization while witnessing father-to-mother violence did not. The mediation effect of justification of female-to-male violence was confirmed between witnessing mother-initiated violence and male victimization, whereas justification of male-to-female violence did not show a mediating effect between witnessing father-initiated violence and male victimization.

CONCLUSION

Both role and gender associations were confirmed. The results imply that there are different ways through which children learn about violence. More specific targets should be addressed in education programs to break the vicious cycle of violence.

Associations between Conflict Negotiation Strategies, Sexual Comfort, and Sexual Satisfaction in Adolescent Romantic Relationships

Achieving healthy and satisfying sexual relationships is a major developmental task in adolescence, but factors promoting sexual satisfaction among adolescent romantic relationships remain underexplored. Since sexuality is shaped by relational experiences, strategies mobilized to negotiate conflicts in romantic relationships could be related to sexual satisfaction through comfort in negotiating sexual experiences. Sexual comfort refers to the ease of discussing sexuality, and feeling comfortable with one's own sexual life and with others' sexual behaviors. This cross-sectional dyadic study examined the mediating role of sexual comfort in the associations between perceived conflict negotiation strategies and sexual satisfaction among adolescent romantic dyads. The actor-partner interdependence model guided the analyses of self-reported questionnaires from 104 mixed- and same-sex dyads (M_age = 18.99 years, SD = 1.51). An adolescent's higher compromise and lower submission were related to their own higher sexual satisfaction via their own higher sexual comfort. The results also revealed a direct association between an adolescent's higher domination and their own lower sexual satisfaction. These findings underscore the importance of considering conflict negotiation strategies and sexual comfort as key factors related to adolescents' sexual satisfaction.

Comparing the prevalence of sexual behaviors and victimization among adolescents based on child welfare system involvement

OBJECTIVE

Sexual behavior presents risks, particularly among vulnerable groups such as adolescents with child welfare system involvement. This study compares the prevalence of sexual behaviors and victimization among adolescents in Los Angeles County with and without child welfare system involvement. It examines associations between online and offline sexual behaviors and victimization.

METHODS

The sample included middle and high school students (N = 2365) and high school students only (N = 1068) participating in the 2015 Los Angeles Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Measures included child welfare system involvement with or without foster care placement, demographics (race, ethnicity, gender, age), in-person sexual behaviors (e.g., unsafe sex), online sexual behaviors (e.g., sent/received sext), and sexual victimization (forced sex, dating physical violence, dating sexual assault). Logistic regressions examined variability in sexual behaviors and victimization based on child welfare involvement, net of demographics. Path analyses associated online sexual behaviors with victimization and offline risk.

RESULTS

Greater reported sexual behavior and victimization among foster care youths was found, relative to youths without child welfare system involvement (maximum OR = 9.8). Youth with child welfare system involvement but not placed in foster care reported more unsafe sex, sexting because of pressure, finding a sex partner online, having sex with a partner met online, and forced sex (maximum OR = 10.4). Sexting was associated with forced sex and dating sexual assault, finding a sexual partner online, and physical violence.

CONCLUSIONS

Targeted prevention is needed for online and offline sexual risks and victimization among youth with child welfare system involvement.

Childhood Sexual Abuse and Exposure to Peer Bullying Victimization

Females exposed to child sexual abuse (CSA) are at an increased risk of experiencing further victimization in adolescence. Associations between CSA and several forms of cyber and in-person peer bullying victimization were assessed in a prospective, longitudinal study. Females exposed to substantiated CSA and a matched comparison group (N = 422) were followed over a two-year period. Bullying experiences were assessed in both survey and qualitative interviews. Qualitative data were coded and used to describe the types (e.g., cyber, physical, verbal), and foci (e.g., threats, physical appearance) of bullying victimization. Logistic regression was used to assess the odds that CSA was associated with subsequent bullying victimization, adjusted for demographics, social networking use, and prior bullying. CSA-exposed females were at an increased risk of multiple forms of bullying victimization with a persistent risk of bullying victimization over time. Specifically, they had 2.6 times higher odds of experiencing any bullying at follow-up, 2.9 times higher odds of experiencing cyberbullying at follow-up, and 2 times higher odds of experiencing combined cyber/in-person bullying at follow-up. CSA-exposed females were more likely than comparison females to experience bullying regarding their appearance/weight and dating relationships. Findings provide further insight into the unique circumstances of the cyberbullying and in-person bullying experienced by CSA-exposed females. Females exposed to child sexual abuse (CSA) are at an increased risk of experiencing bullying victimization, specifically cyberbullying and combined cyber/in-person bullying, as well as bullying about their appearance and dating relationships. These findings indicate that bullying prevention needs to include trauma-focused components to target these uniquely vulnerable females.

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

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

Sexual Violence at University: Are Indigenous Students More at Risk?

University-based sexual violence prevalence is worryingly high and leads to many serious consequences for health and academic achievement. Although previous work has documented greater risk for sexual violence among Indigenous Peoples, little is known about university-based sexual violence experienced by Indigenous students. Using a large-scale study of university-based sexual violence in Canada, the current study aims to (1) examine the risk of sexual violence against Indigenous students compared to non-Indigenous students, and (2) to document sexual violence experiences of Indigenous students. Undergraduate students from six universities (N = 5,627) completed online questionnaires regarding their experience and consequences of university-based sexual violence (e.g., forms of sexual violence experiences, gender, and status of the perpetrator, context of the violence, PTSD, disclosure). Findings indicated that compared with their non-Indigenous peers, Indigenous students experienced significantly higher levels of sexual harassment. However, no difference was found for unwanted sexual behaviors, nor for sexual violence contexts. Among Indigenous students, those having experienced sexual violence after age 18 (outside university) were more likely to report university-based sexual violence. Overall, findings highlight that Indigenous students, as well as non-Indigenous students, experience university-based sexual violence. Given their history, Indigenous students may have different needs, so sustainable policies that foster cultural safety on all campuses are clearly needed.

Sexual Assault Is the Biggest Risk Factor for Violence against Women in Taiwan-A Nationwide Population Cohort Study from 2000 to 2015

Objective: To understand the main types of risk of violence against women in Taiwan. Materials and methods: This study used the outpatient, emergency, and hospitalization data of 2 million people in the National Health Insurance sample from 2000 to 2015. The International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnostic N-codes 995.5 (child abuse) and 995.8 (adult abuse) or E-codes E960−E969 (homicide and intentional injury by others) were defined as the case study for this study, and the risks of first violent injury for boys and girls (0−17 years old), adults (18−64 years old), and elders (over 65 years old) were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was used for risk comparison. A p value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: The proportion of women (12−17.9 years old) who were sexually assaulted was 2.71 times that of women under the age of 12, and the risk of sexual assault for girls and adult women was 100 times that of men. Girls who were insured as labor insurance, farmers, members of water conservancy and fishery associations, low-income households, and community insured population (public insurance as the reference group) were significantly more likely to seek medical treatment from sexual assault than adult women. Among them, the risk was greatest for girls from low-income households (odds ratio = 10.74). Conclusion: Women are at higher risk of sexual assault than men regardless of whether they are children or adults, and the highest risk is for women in senior high schools, especially for girls from low-income households. Therefore, the protection of women’s personal autonomy is the direction that the government and people from all walks of life need to continue to strive for. Especially for high school students from low-income households, protection must be strengthened through education, social work, and police administration.

Women's experiences of safety apps for sexualized violence: a narrative scoping review

Background

Sexualized violence against women is a significant human rights problem worldwide. Safety apps have the capacity to provide women with resources to prevent or respond to experiences of sexualized violence.

Methods

The aim of the following study was to review the scope of the literature on women’s experiences of safety apps related to sexualized violence. The databases Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Scopus were systematically searched, and seven studies were included in this review.

Results

Thematic analysis identified the following themes in the literature: (1) security; (2) accessibility; and (3) knowledge.

Conclusion

The gaps in the literature are identified and implications and recommendations for future research is discussed.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-12292-5.

Prevalence of teen dating violence in Europe: A systematic review of studies since 2010

Violence in adolescent relationships is a common problem with numerous negative short- and long-term consequences. Because most of the evidence on teen dating violence (TDV) synthesized in reviews comes from North American studies, this review aimed to compile evidence on prevalence rates of TDV based on studies identified for Europe only. Specifically, we considered different forms of TDV victimization and perpetration, gender differences, and its measurement. A systematic literature search of the most popular databases Ebsco and PubMed yielded a total of N = 34 studies, with most of the studies identified for Spain, and only a few studies in other European countries. In sum, the results revealed a great variability in prevalence rates across and within the European countries, a common pattern of gender differences, and a wide range of applied measures, corresponding with the evidence from the North American studies. Implications for future research and policy were discussed.

Relational and Sexual Experiences of Betrayal From the Point of View of Sexually Victimized Young Women

Worldwide, it is estimated that one in five women have reported being sexually victimized before the age of 18. Girls are particularly at risk of sexual abuse at the end of adolescence and are more vulnerable to revictimization during this period. However, there is a paucity of findings related to the relational and sexual impacts of child sexual abuse among young women. The traumagenic dynamics model, proposed by Finkelhor and Browne, postulates that the consequences of sexual abuse can be analyzed in light of four distinct dynamics: traumatic sexualization, betrayal, powerlessness, and stigmatization. Among the four postulated dynamics, betrayal appears to be a key element to gain insight on the relational challenges experienced by victims, as betrayal situations can recur in romantic relationships. The present study aimed to describe, from the point of view of young women victims of child sexual abuse, the issues related to betrayals in their relational and sexual experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 young women aged 18 to 25 years old who had reported sexual victimization. Two main conceptual categories emerged from the narratives of the participants: (a) relational situations that echo the betrayal dynamic and (b) strategies to cope with relational situations involving betrayal: protection, reparation, and the use of both strategies, which leads to ambivalence. Findings highlight the importance of addressing the traumagenic dynamic of betrayal in interventions with sexually abuse youths, given their likelihood to experience betrayal in the context of romantic relationships and their increased risk of revictimization.

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

BACKGROUND

Child sexual abuse (CSA) and intimate partner violence (IPV) have been associated with negative consequences for adult victims and their children including a risk of revictimization and intergenerational continuity.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to document correlates of intergenerational cumulative trauma profiles in mother-child dyads.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

A sample of 997 sexually abused children (mean age = 7.61 years; 79.1% girls) and their mothers was recruited.

METHODS

Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was used to identify classes of cumulative trauma among dyads. Classes were compared on validated measures of psychological functioning for both members of the dyads.

RESULTS

Four distinct classes emerged: CSA Only (43.3%), Intergenerational CSA with Psychological IPV (14.2%), Physical and Psychological IPV with Low Child Exposure (24.0%) and Intergenerational Polyvictimization (18.5%). Comparisons generally revealed lower distress in CSA Only dyads, and higher levels of psychological difficulties in the two most victimized groups. However, the dose-response pattern was not as clear as expected, as the two most victimized groups did not differ in terms of psychological functioning.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that higher levels of intergenerational cumulative trauma are associated with increased psychological symptoms in mothers and more dissociation in their sexually abused children. Interventions should be adapted to the specific needs of families to prevent lasting intergenerational difficulties in trauma exposed individuals.

A cluster analysis of dynamics in adolescent romantic relationships

INTRODUCTION

While several studies involving adolescents have addressed issues related to romantic relationships and dating violence, there is a limited understanding of adolescent romantic relationship dynamics. Typological analyses have been useful to provide targeted interventions and to simplify our understanding of complex phenomena.

METHODS

This study explored dynamics in adolescent romantic relationships, considering the interaction between romantic partner characteristics to identify dyadic profiles. A sample of 90 heterosexual dyads of Canadian adolescents (M_age = 18.44 years, SD = 1.47) completed a self-reported questionnaire. A hierarchical cluster analysis was conducted based on the dimensions of the Circumplex Model of Marital and Family Systems (i.e., cohesion, flexibility, and communication; Olson & Gorall, 2003).

RESULTS

Analysis revealed four profiles of romantic relationship dynamics: 1) balanced dynamic (51.0% of the sample); 2) hampered dynamic (8.3%); 3) entangled dynamic (20.8%); and 4) rigid dynamic (13.5%). Taking into account the variations between and within dyads, results highlight the diversity of romantic experiences and offer a better understanding of the intricacies of different adolescent romantic relationship dynamics. Correlates indicated that the profiles can be distinguished by different personal and interpersonal characteristics.

CONCLUSION

This study emphasizes the importance of integrating a more person- and dyad-oriented framework in our understanding of adolescent romantic dynamics, since a unique approach to prevention and intervention may not address the needs of all adolescents. The results provided important insight into the identified profiles, guiding dating violence prevention efforts and programs and promoting harmonious and egalitarian romantic relationships.

A Review of Mediators in the Association between Child Sexual Abuse and Revictimization in Romantic Relationships

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a widespread adverse experience that has multiple detrimental impacts in the long-term, affecting mental, sexual, and physical health of survivors. In addition, CSA may impede interpersonal functioning, and be associated with a heightened risk of revictimization. Recent review articles have summarized the possible risk factors associated with sexual revictimization, yet an increasing body of literature suggests that CSA may be a key risk factor for multiple forms (i.e., psychological, physical, sexual) of victimization occurring specifically in the context of intimate relationships, either in adolescence (dating violence) or adulthood (partner violence). Our understanding of the mechanisms linking CSA and dating violence or intimate partner violence is still limited. This systematic review of the literature is aimed at summarizing the identified mediators of the association between CSA and revictimization in romantic relationships in past empirical reports. A total of 18 studies meeting criteria were identified. Apart from PTSD, few potential mediators have been explored in more than one study. In addition, few studies have investigated protective factors that may reduce the risk of revictimization. Several limitations in the current literature were identified including issues related to definitions and measurement. Studies relying on longitudinal designs with representative samples are clearly needed to orient future prevention efforts and break the revictimization trajectory.

Prevalence and associated mental health outcomes of child sexual abuse in youth in France: Observations from a convenience sample

CONTEXT

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is an important public health problem associated with an array of negative consequences. Although prevalence rates are well established from North America, few studies have focused on the extent of CSA and associated outcomes in youth from France.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to: 1) estimate the prevalence of CSA, 2) assess the associations between CSA and health outcomes while exploring possible gender specificities and 3) document the contribution of revictimization on symptom complexity.

METHOD

The sample involved 2309 participants aged between 14 and 23 years old (M = 19.55). Measures assessing CSA, other forms of child maltreatment and mental health problems were administered. Sexual revictimization and a host of protective factors (resilience, coping strategies, parental support) were also assessed.

RESULTS

CSA was reported by 13.1% of girls and 4.2% of boys. Regression analyses revealed that CSA was associated with all mental health outcomes except alcohol and drug use (other than cannabis) after controlling for sociodemographics and other forms of child maltreatment. Sexual revictimization was associated with symptom complexity. Emotion-centered and avoidance coping predicted symptom complexity while resilience and paternal support acted as protective factors.

LIMITATIONS

The study relied on a cross-sectional design with a convenience sample, which limits the generalizability of results. The small number of boys reporting CSA precludes drawing firm conclusions as to the gender specificities in the outcomes associated with CSA.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings underscore the relevance of developing efficient prevention programs as CSA is linked to a host of negative outcomes.

Sex-Based Differences in Criminal Victimization of Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis

While general criminological theories, including low self-control, social bonds, routine activities, and risky lifestyles are increasingly used to explain criminal victimization, there is some evidence these theories may omit important sex differences. To date, the empirical evidence remains mixed, which may be an artifact of methodological differences. This study used three-level meta-analytic methods to assess the use of various predictors derived from criminological theory on a variety of criminal victimization types, sample characteristics, and differences in research design. In a total sample of 166,650 females and 129,988 males in 115 studies using 95 unique datasets of adolescents (average age = 10-19), the meta-analysis revealed that elements of risky lifestyles are largely sex-neutral, while some sex-specific effects of bonds, routine activities, and prior victimization are observed. Implications for criminological theory, developmental and life course research on adolescent victimization, and avenues for prevention are discussed.

Sentinel surveillance of child maltreatment cases presenting to Canadian emergency departments

Background

The Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting Prevention Program (CHIRPP) is a sentinel surveillance program that collects and analyzes data on injuries and poisonings of people presenting to emergency departments (EDs) at 11 pediatric and eight general hospitals (currently) across Canada. To date, CHIRPP is an understudied source of child maltreatment (CM) surveillance data. This study: (1) describes CM cases identified in the CHIRPP database between1997/98 to 2010/11; (2) assesses the level of CM case capture over the 14-year period and; (3) uses content analysis to identify additional information captured in text fields.

Methods

We reviewed cases of children under 16 whose injuries were reported as resulting from CM from 1997/98 to 2010/11. A time trend analysis of cases to assess capture was conducted and content analysis was applied to develop a codebook to assess information from text fields in CHIRPP. The frequency of types of CM and other variables identified from text fields were calculated. Finally, the frequency of types of CM were presented by age and gender.

Results

A total of 2200 CM cases were identified. There was a significant decrease in the capture of CM cases between 1999 and 2005. Physical abuse was the most prevalent type (57%), followed by sexual assault (31%), unspecified maltreatment (7%), injury as the result of exposure to family violence (3%) and neglect (2%). Text fields provided additional information including perpetrator characteristics, the use of drugs and/or alcohol during the injury event, information regarding the involvement of non-health care professionals, whether maltreatment occurred during a visitation period with a parent and, whether the child was removed from their home.

Conclusions

The findings from this initial study indicate that CHIRPP could be a complimentary source of CM data. As an injury surveillance system, physical abuse and sexual assault were better captured than other types of CM. Text field data provided unique information on a number of additional details surrounding the injury event, including risk factors.

Trauma-Informed Approaches to Adolescent Relationship Abuse and Sexual Violence Prevention

Adolescent relationship abuse and sexual violence are prevalent throughout adolescence and are associated with serious physical and mental health consequences. Trauma-informed approaches to care balance adolescent confidentiality, autonomy, and a young person's safety. The provision of trauma-informed care can include universal education and brief counseling about healthy relationships with all adolescent patients during clinical encounters to promote healthy adolescent sexual relationships, ensure youth know about resources for relationship abuse and sexual violence, and facilitate connections to advocates who serve survivors of abuse. Providers can integrate evidence-based relationship abuse and sexual violence prevention into their work with adolescents. [Pediatr Ann. 2019;48(7):e274-e279.].

Violence against children and natural disasters: A systematic review and meta-analysis of quantitative evidence

OBJECTIVES

Reviews of violence against children in disaster settings focus on armed conflict. Little is understood about natural disasters which has implications in planning humanitarian response. We examined the magnitude and direction of the association between exposure to natural disasters and physical, emotional, and sexual violence against children, and assessed the quality of the evidence.

METHODS

We searched 15 health and social science databases from first record until May 16, 2018. Publications describing all types of quantitative study design were eligible for inclusion. We presented study characteristics and quality in a narrative form and generated pooled estimates using a three-level random effects model. We evaluated Cochrane's Q with p-values below 0.10 and radial plots to assess heterogeneity. Planned subgroup analyses explored differential results by violence form, study design, and analysis method.

RESULTS

11 publications met inclusion criteria. The majority were cross-sectional studies examining physical or sexual violence in the United States. We found no evidence of a consistent association or directional influence between natural disasters and violence against children. Combined categorical violence outcomes had substantial heterogeneity [Q (df = 66) = 252.83, p < 0.001]. Subgroups without evidence of heterogeneity had confidence intervals that included a possible null effect. Our findings were mainly limited by inconsistencies in operational definitions of violence, a lack of representative sampling, and unclear establishment of temporal order between natural disaster exposure and violence outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the available evidence, we cannot confidently conclude that natural disasters increase the level or severity of violence against children above non-disaster settings, however heterogeneity and study quality hamper our ability to draw firm conclusions. More nuanced and rigorous research is needed to inform practice and policy as natural disasters increasingly affect human populations.

Updates on adolescent dating and sexual violence prevention and intervention

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Dating and sexual violence victimization are not uncommon in early adolescence and increase in prevalence throughout adolescence into young adulthood with profound health and social consequences. Greater attention to what works in prevention is needed to inform current policies and practices.

RECENT FINDINGS

Adolescent dating violence (ADV) and sexual violence victimization, including cyber dating abuse, are highly prevalent among adolescents. Studies have found sex category differences, with adolescent girls reporting more victimization than boys, particularly sexual violence. Sexual and gender minority youth also experience a higher prevalence of violence victimization than their heterosexual counterparts. Studies on risk factors include examinations of childhood adversities, exposure to sexually explicit material and substance use as well as the role of gender inequitable attitudes on violence perpetration. Recent prevention research includes examining the impact of bystander interventions and transforming gender norms.

SUMMARY

Recent ADV/ sexual violence research highlights both prevalence and modifiable risk and protective factors that may help reduce such violence. Practitioners caring for youth should consider ADV/ sexual violence when seeing patients (including those struggling with substance use and other behaviours that contribute to poor health) and not simply rely on screening tools to identify those suffering from ADV/ sexual violence.