Prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and association with dating violence and symptoms of mental illness among adolescents in the Dominican Republic

The relationship between adverse childhood experiences and depressive symptoms in rural left-behind adolescents: A cross-sectional survey

Objective

We assessed the current status of depressive symptoms and the associated factors in rural left-behind adolescents. Moreover, we investigated the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and depressive symptoms.

Methods

Students from two rural junior high schools in Huaihua City were enrolled from July to September 2022. Before distributing the questionnaires, guardians of the students were contacted, and consent was obtained from the students themselves. The questionnaires were filled out anonymously and collected on-site.

Results

The prevalence of depressive symptoms among the 325 left-behind teenagers was 23.40%; the rate of emotional abuse in adverse childhood experiences was 17.50%, physical abuse was 15.70%, sexual abuse was 9.50%, emotional neglect was 24.60%, while physical neglect was 27.70%. The five dimensions of adverse childhood experiences were associated with depressive symptoms (r = 0.597, 0.395, 0.410, 0.498, 0.741, p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Depressive symptoms were common among rural left-behind adolescents. Adverse childhood experiences were associated with depressive symptoms in rural left-behind adolescents. Occurrence of adverse childhood experiences should be reduced to improve on depressive symptoms.

Thoughts of self-harm in adolescents: Relationship with violence in the Dominican Republic

Violence against adolescents is a pressing health problem with long-term implications for future physical and mental well-being, such as thoughts of self-harm, which have been associated with suicidal ideation and completion. However, much of the research has been conducted only in high-income countries. This study aimed to examine the correlation between violence against adolescents and self-harm thoughts in La Romana, Dominican Republic (DR). Cross-sectional survey data was collected at a community-based clinic from participants aged 13-20. Participants were recruited through the clinic's adolescent program and peer referral, and verbal consent was obtained. A survey solicited information about each participant's demographics, experiences with violence, and thoughts of harm to self or others. The survey was completed by 49 adolescents. The mean age was 16.78 (SD 2.34); 65% were female. We performed t-tests and Fisher's exact to investigate the relationship between demographics, reported violence experiences and having self-harm thoughts. About half (45%) had experienced physical violence, 76% had experienced emotional violence, and 12% had experienced sexual violence. The most common perpetrators of physical and emotional violence were classmates (12% and 24%), and the most common perpetrator of sexual violence was an ex-partner (4.1%). Ten participants (20.4%) had thought about harming themselves. Self-harm thoughts were significantly associated with being female (p = 0.025), employed (p = 0.05), and to a higher number of experiences of physical (0.029) and sexual violence (p = 0.023). The results of this study suggest a high prevalence of both violence and self-harm thoughts in adolescents in the DR. Interventions that address physical and sexual violence against adolescents may be particularly important. Particular attention should also be paid to screening for self-harm thoughts in female-identifying adolescents. Further research is needed to better understand the relationship between violence and self-harm thoughts in adolescents in the DR.

Dating violence prevalence and risk factors among adolescents (14-19 years) in urban public schools in Panama

Background

Adolescent dating violence (ADV) can have lasting effects on youth's well-being and development. However, few studies in Latin America have described its prevalence and risk factors for having experienced ADV.

Methods

We conducted a multisite, cross-sectional study using two-stage cluster sampling among adolescents (14-19 years) attending public high schools in the urban districts of Panama, San Miguelito, Colón, and Arraiján/La Chorrera from 2015 to 2018 (N = 2469). All completed a tablet-based, self-administered questionnaire. Random effects logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for each ADV type among adolescent boys and girls separately.

Findings

Participants reported experiencing a range of ADV at least once (girls: emotional 61.6%, physical 7.9%, sexual 21.0%; boys: emotional 73.4%, physical 24.1%, sexual 28.9%). In adjusted models, participants with a history of sexual intercourse had greater odds of ADV than those without such history across types (boys: emotional and sexual; girls: emotional, physical, and sexual). Additionally, participants who reported three or more romantic partners in the past year had greater odds of ADV than those with one partner (boys: emotional, physical; girls: physical). Girls with an earlier sexual debut (≤14 years vs ≥15 years) had greater odds of reporting ADV (emotional and sexual violence). No associations were found between reporting dating violence survival and the sex of romantic partners in the past year or the age of the current/most recent sex partner.

Interpretation

This study reveals a high prevalence of ADV among adolescents in urban public schools in Panama. These findings support the need for program implementation to address ADV.

Funding

Funding to undertake this study was acquired from Panama's Ministry of Economics and Finance, project number 009044.049.