Predicting Sexual Revictimization in Childhood and Adolescence: A Longitudinal Examination Using Ecological Systems Theory

Internet-based emotion regulation training aimed at reducing violent revictimization and depressive symptoms in victimized depressed patients: Results of a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Depressed patients who have become victim of violence are prone to revictimization. However, no evidence-based interventions aimed at reducing revictimization in this group exist.

METHODS

This multicenter randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of an internet-based emotion regulation training (iERT) added to TAU in reducing revictimization, emotion dysregulation, and depressive symptoms in recently victimized, depressed patients compared to TAU alone. Adult outpatients (N = 153) with a depressive disorder who had experienced threat, physical assault, or sexual assault within the previous three years were randomly allocated to TAU+iERT (n = 74) or TAU (n = 79). TAU involved psychotherapy (mainly cognitive behavioral therapy [77.8 %]). iERT comprised six guided online sessions focused on the acquisition of adaptive emotion regulation skills. The primary outcome measure was the number of revictimization incidents at 12 months after baseline, measured with the Safety Monitor. Analyses were performed according to the intention-to-treat principle.

RESULTS

Both groups showed a large decrease in victimization incidents. Mixed-model negative binomial regression analyses showed that TAU+iERT was not effective in reducing revictimization compared to TAU (IRR = 0.97; 95%CI = 0.64,1.46; p = .886). Linear mixed-model analyses demonstrated that TAU+iERT yielded a larger reduction of emotion dysregulation (B = -7.217; p = .046; Cohens d = 0.33), but not depressive symptoms (B = -1.041; p = .607) than TAU.

LIMITATIONS

The study was underpowered to detect small treatment effects. Additionally, uptake of iERT was quite low.

CONCLUSIONS

Although TAU+iERT resulted in a larger decrease of emotion dysregulation than TAU alone, it was not effective in reducing revictimization and depressive symptoms. Patients' revictimization risk substantially decreased during psychotherapy.

Independent effects of early life adversity on social cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of early life adversity on cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia, with a focus on social cognition (SC).

Methods

Two groups of patients with schizophrenia were recruited and matched on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. One group consisted of 32 patients with a history of childhood trauma (SCZ-ct), and the other group consisted of 30 patients without a history of childhood trauma (SCZ-nct). In addition, 39 healthy controls without a history of childhood trauma (HC-nct) were also recruited. The intelligence of the three groups was assessed using the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WAIS-RC) short version. The cognitive function evaluation was conducted using the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB), and early life adversity was measured using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ) and Bullying Scale for Adults (BSA).

Results

Patients with schizophrenia endosed significantly higher scores on the CTQ (F=67.61, p<0.001) and BSA (F=9.84, p<0.001) compared to the HC-nct. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and post-hoc analyses revealed that SCZ-ct (F=11.20, p<0.001) exhibited the most pronounced cognitive impairment among the three groups, as indicated in MCCB total scores and in the domain score of SC. CTQ exhibited a negative correlation with MCCB (r=-0.405, p< 0.001); SC was negatively correlated with physical abuse (PA) of CTQ (r=-0.271, p=0.030) and emotional abuse (EA) of BSA (r=-0.265, p=0.034) in the whole patient sample. Higher SC performance was significantly predicted by CT_total (Beta =-0.582, p<0.001, 95% CI -0.96-0.46), and years of education (Beta=0.260, p =0.014, 95% CI 0.20-1.75) in schizophrenia.

Conclusions

Besides familial trauma, schizophrenia patients appear to have a higher likelihood of experiencing bullying in their early life. These experiences seem to contribute significantly to their severe impairments in SC.

Characteristics and Dynamics of Cyberstalking Victimization Among Juveniles and Young Adults

Using the nationally representative Ipsos online KnowledgePanel, the sample included three hundred thirty-six 18- to 28-year-olds who retrospectively reported first cyberstalking incidents as juveniles (9- to 17-year-olds) or adults. Half of the sample first experienced cyberstalking as juveniles and half first experienced it as adults. Juveniles were more likely to have more than two perpetrators in the same episode, to experience more violent threats, and to avoid people because of what happened. Few reported the incident to the police, with juveniles less likely to report it to the police. Cyberstalking of juveniles appears just as or more serious than cyberstalking of adults.

Risk factors for sexual harassment and abuse victimization among adolescent athletes and non-athletes: A one-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND

The association between SHA and negative mental health increases the need to understand risk factors for SHA victimization, which is important for future development of prevention programs.

OBJECTIVE

To examine which combinations of demographic- and mental health factors were associated with subsequent SHA victimization, and the prevalence of elite athletes, recreational athletes, and reference students who experienced sexual revictimization.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

Norwegian elite athletes and recreational athletes attending sport high schools, and reference students attending non-sport high schools (mean age: 17.1 years) were eligible for participation.

METHODS

The participants answered an online questionnaire at two measurement points one year apart, T1 and T2 (n = 1139, 51.1 % girls). After testing for measurement invariance, data were analyzed with Classification and Regression Tree analysis (CRT) using demographic- and mental health variables from T1 as independent variables, and SHA at T2 as outcome.

RESULTS

The combination of being a girl with high level of symptoms of eating disorders and other psychological symptoms was associated with subsequent reporting of SHA. Among the students with lifetime experience of SHA at T1 (n = 533, 58.3 %), 49.5 % reported revictimization at T2 (60.9 % girls, 32.2 % boys, p ≤ .001). The prevalence of SHA revictimization was lower among elite athletes (44.3 %) compared with recreational athletes (49.1 %) and reference students (59.4 %, p = .019).

CONCLUSION

The combination of female gender and mental health symptoms are risk factors for subsequent SHA victimization. These findings, and the high prevalence of SHA revictimization is important knowledge for developing preventive programs targeting elite athletes, recreational athletes, and reference students.

Magnitude and factors associated with sexual re-victimization among adolescent girls and young women in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: a retrospective multicenter study

BACKGROUND

Adolescent girls and young women are more exposed to sexual violence. A significant proportion of victims of sexual abuse are victims of sexual re-victimization. However, information on the burden of sexual re-victimization among AGYW in contexts other than conflict-affected areas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is limited. The aim of this study was to assess the magnitude of sexual re-victimization among AGYW and to identify associated risk factors in the capital, Kinshasa.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective multicenter cohort study in which sexual violence records between 2015 and 2020 were used to extract and analyze victims' sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics and profiles of sexual violence perpetrated. Multivariate logistic regression models were employed to identify factors associated with sexual re-victimization using the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) and p value < 0.05.

RESULTS

We found that 74 (31%) of the 241 AGYW included in this study had experienced sexual re-victimization. Sexual re-victimization was associated with being older (> 19 years), sexually active, and living in a single-parent family, and with perpetrator types, particularly intimate partners and family members.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provide tools for developing and implementing targeted prevention and intervention programs to reduce sexual violence in general and sexual re-victimization in particular.

"Survive, learn to live with it … or not": A narrative analysis of women's repeat victimization using a lifecourse perspective

Violence against women is a global public health concern, with high levels of prevalence and debilitating consequences for victims, including a higher risk of revictimization. Quantitative evidence shows a strong association between previous experiences of sexual victimization, particularly in childhood, and future victimization. However, there is limited rigorous qualitative scholarship that advances understanding about revictimization experienced from childhood into adulthood. In this study, we address this gap offering a novel contribution to qualitative insights on revictimization using a life-course perspective. We conducted a rigorous qualitative secondary analysis, adopting a feminist narrative approach, to explore how individuals make sense of their experiences of abuse. Findings showed five main themes about survivors' experiences of repeat victimization across the life-course including: abuse experiences in childhood and adolescence; mental health and 'risky' coping mechanisms; naming abuse in early adulthood; seeking support in adulthood; surviving and a life beyond abuse. Most participants experienced multiple incidents of sexual abuse in childhood, which led to helplessness, shame, blame, and normalization of their experiences, creating a vulnerability to repeat victimization. Childhood abuse had later mental health impacts. Many participants used risky coping mechanisms, such as substance use. Survivors tended to be seen through the lens of their mental health diagnosis and addiction rather than through the lens of how abuse caused complex trauma. To address the impacts of revictimization and complex trauma affecting women across the globe, healthcare policy and services need a narrative and trauma-informed approach, over the short-, medium- or longer-term, enabling survivors to make sense of the connected nature of their experiences and accumulated vulnerability resulting from the abuse by others, rather than factors associated with the individual (their mental ill health, for example, or substance use). This is important as women's individual understanding is critical to processing trauma and abuse, and to longer-term recovery.

Prevalence and determinants of sexual abuse among adolescent girls during the COVID-19 lockdown and school closures in Ghana: A mixed method study

BACKGROUND

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns have been raised that the pandemic may derail global efforts against child sexual abuse (CSA).

OBJECTIVES

This study examines the prevalence and associated factors of sexual abuse among adolescent girls in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

The sample comprised 853 adolescent girls aged 13-19 (16.03 ± 2.04 years) in Ghana.

METHODS

The study employed a concurrent mixed-method design.

RESULTS

Overall, the prevalence of CSA during the COVID-19 lockdown and school closures was 32.5 %. Protective factors for CSA were feeling safe in neighbourhood (AOR = 0.526, 95 % CI = [0.325, 0.850]) and parents often listen to opinions (AOR = 0.446, 95 % CI = [0.241, 0.826]). Risk factors for CSA were physical activity (AOR = 1.649, OR = 1.783, 95 % CI_AOR = [1.093, 2.487, 95 % CI_OR = [1.241, 2.561]), parents sometimes listen to opinions (AOR = 1.199, OR = 1.924, 95 % CI_AOR = [0.504, 2.853], 95 % CI_OR = [1.034, 3.582]), living with another relative (AOR = 2.352, OR = 2.484, 95 % CI_AOR = [0.270, 20.523], 95 % CI_OR = [0.317, 19.475]), Akan ethnicity (AOR = 1.576, OR = 1.437, 95 % CI_AOR = [0.307, 8.091], 95 % CI_OR = [0.316, 6.534]), having no disability (AOR = 1.099, OR = 1.138, 95 % CI_AOR = [0.679, 1.581], 95 % CI_OR = [0.786, 1.649]) and having a close relationship with parents (AOR = 1.334, OR = 1.752, 95 % CI_AOR = [0.746, 2.385], 95 % CI_OR = [1.096, 2.802]).

CONCLUSION

Knowledge of the risk and protective factors identified in this study can guide and inform the development of CSA prevention programmes during disruptive occurrences like school closures and lockdown.

Risk Factors for Sexual Revictimization and Dating Violence in Young Adults with a History of Child Sexual Abuse

Interpersonal revictimization, through sexual violence and psychological or physical dating violence, is one of the many consequences of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). This study examined how childhood maltreatment, sociodemographic characteristics, mental health, relational factors, and community factors are associated with 1) sexual revictimization 2) psychological dating violence victimization, and 3) physical dating violence victimization in a sample of young adults reporting a history of CSA. A sample of 190 young adults (18-25 y.o.) with self-reported experiences of CSA completed an online survey measuring childhood maltreatment (e.g. neglect, physical abuse, witness to domestic violence), sociodemographic characteristics (e.g. material deprivation, education), mental health (dissociation, posttraumatic stress symptoms), relational factors (e.g. insecure attachment style), and community factors (e.g. neighborhood disadvantage). Hierarchical logistic regressions indicated that once all risk factors were entered in the models, PTSD was positively associated with psychological dating violence, while dissociation was positively associated with physical dating violence. Physical abuse in childhood was positively associated with sexual revictimization. The present study shows the importance of simultaneously considering the impact of multiple characteristics surrounding CSA survivors when evaluating risks of revictimization. Additionally, it highlights the importance of providing CSA survivors with adequate mental health support for trauma-related disorders, as it may be crucial to prevent revictimization.

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.

Violent victimization and revictimization in patients with depressive disorders: context characteristics, disclosure rates, and gender differences

BACKGROUND

Depressed patients are prone to violent victimization, and patients who were victimized once are at increased risk to fall victim to violence again. However, knowledge on the context of victimization in depressed patients is lacking, and research identifying targets for prevention is urgently needed.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study explored context characteristics, disclosure rates and gender differences regarding violent victimization in 153 recently victimized depressed patients. Additionally, 12-month prevalence rates of repeat threat, physical assault, and sexual assault were examined, and gender differences were investigated using t-tests, Chi-square tests, and Fisher's exact tests. Furthermore, logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with repeat victimization.

RESULTS

Overall, depressed men were most often victimized by a stranger in public, and women by their partner or ex-partner at home. Regarding sexual assault, no gender differences could be examined. Patients were sexually assaulted most often by an acquaintance (50.0%) or stranger (27.8%). In all patients, the most recent incidents of threat (67.6%) and physical assault (80.0%) were often preceded by a conflict, and only a minority had been intoxicated prior to the assault. Notably, less than half of patients had disclosed their recent experience of threat (40.6%) and physical assault (47.1%) to their mental health caregiver. For sexual assault, this was only 20%. Less than one third of patients had reported their recent experience of threat (27.9%), physical assault (30.0%) and sexual assault (11.1%) to the police. 48.4% of patients had been victimized repeatedly in the past year, with no gender differences found. Only depressive symptoms and unemployment were univariately associated with repeat victimization, but not in the multiple model.

CONCLUSIONS

The high prevalence of repeat victimization in depressed patients and their low disclosure rates stress the need to implement routine enquiry of victimization in mental health care, and to develop preventive interventions accounting for specific needs of men and women.

A Recurring Nightmare: Risk and Protective Factors for Revictimization of Child Sexual Abuse in Chile

Child and adolescent victims of sexual crimes are at high risk for further abuse, which translates in a relatively higher risk of revictimization for a child or adolescent who has already been a victim of sexual abuse, compared to one who has not. Although sexual revictimization has been extensively studied in young and adult populations, much less is known about occurrences in childhood and adolescence. In this vein, this article seeks to identify risk of, and protective factors against, revictimization in a census sample of victims under 18 years of age in Chile. Risk and protective factors were studied in a database of all complaints of sexual offenses against children and adolescents registered at two time-points over two years: first, during 2012, and again through January 2015. Using multiple logistic regression, we identified risk factors associated with the probability of sexual revictimization, such as sex of the perpetrator (OR = 3.6 for female perpetrators), previous sexual offenses attributed to perpetrators (OR = 1.8), age of victim at the time of abuse (6-12 OR = .77; 13-17 = OR = .69), and minimization of abuse (OR = 1.3). Finally, interaction tests identified an association between the sex of the original perpetrator and the sex of the victim, as well as an association between the sex of the original perpetrator and the age of the victim. The implications of these findings for victim protection and victimological public policy are discussed.

Prevalence and Correlates of Sexual Revictimization in Middle and High School Youth

Research consistently shows that individuals who experience a sexual assault are at an increased risk to experience a subsequent sexual assault, a phenomenon known as sexual revictimization. However, little research has used a longitudinal methodology to examine rates and correlates of peer-to-peer sexual revictimization in middle and high school youth. The purpose of this study was to address this gap in the literature. Participants were 1,706 youth in Grades 7 to 10 (51.3% female) who completed surveys at the beginning and end of an academic year, approximately 6 months apart. Results showed that the vast majority (n = 1561, 90.4%) of youth reported no sexual victimization at either time point, 125 youth (7.2%) reported sexual victimization at one time point, and 40 youth (2.3%) reported sexual victimization at two time points. Among victims (n = 165), about one quarter (n = 40, 24.2%) were victimized at both time points. Binge drinking, depression, and suicidal thoughts were all higher among multiple and singular victims compared with nonvictims and among multiple victims compared with singular victims. Girls and sexual minorities were more likely to be multiple and singular victims compared with nonvictims and multiple victims compared with singular victims. Older youth were more likely to be multiple and singular victims compared with nonvictims. These data underscore the need for programming that concurrently focuses on mental health and sexual assault risk reduction, especially among high-risk youth.

Modifiable personal and environmental factors associated with anxiety in family caregivers of children with disabilities: A comparison between parents and grandparents

BACKGROUND

Caregivers of children with disabilities might face high risk of anxiety, but the specific influencing factors may be different between parents and grandparents. This study is to explore the influencing modifiable factors from personal and environmental dimensions, so as to provide practical reference for effectively preventing and alleviating anxiety of this population.

METHODS

A total of 504 primary caregivers were investigated in Shanghai, China, of which 496 parents and grandparents were included in the analysis. Risk of anxiety was measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) Scale. Descriptive statistics, univariate analysis, and multivariable logistic regression were performed to describe the personal and environmental characteristics of parents and grandparents, risk of anxiety, and identify the significant factors.

RESULTS

35.1% of the total caregivers had the risk of anxiety, parents (35.8%) were slightly more anxious than grandparents (33.1%). Among parents, children's stable emotion (AOR=0.263, 95% CI=0.113, 0.611), higher household income (AOR=0.664; 95% CI=0.519, 0.850), owning a house (AOR=0.326; 95% CI=0.174, 0.610), and better barrier-free construction (AOR=0.400; 95% CI=0.170, 0.941) were associated with lower odds of anxiety. As for grandparents, significant association was merely found in caregiving time (AOR=2.936; 95% CI=1.064, 8.107).

LIMITATIONS

Given the cross-sectional design, we would not infer causal relationships.

CONCLUSIONS

Anxiety among family caregivers of children with disabilities was not encouraging and need to be urgently concerned. To reach optimal efficiency, intergenerational differences should be considered when health care providers and policy makers taking measures to facilitate the mental health of this population.

Revictimization Is Associated With Higher Cardiometabolic Risk in Sexual Minority Women

OBJECTIVES

Although there is evidence that interpersonal trauma is associated with cardiometabolic risk in women, previous studies have not assessed the potential role of revictimization (victimization in both childhood and adulthood) among sexual minority women.

METHODS

We used data from the Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women study to examine the associations of revictimization (including physical, sexual, and any revictimization) with self-reported psychosocial factors, health behaviors, and cardiometabolic risk factors (e.g., obesity, hypertension, and diabetes). We tested multiple logistic regression models, adjusted for covariates, to estimate odds ratios of the associations between revictimization and cardiometabolic risk.

RESULTS

The sample included 615 sexual minority women with a mean age of 40.0 years; 38.7% White. Eighty-three (13.5%) and 101 (16.4%) participants reported experiencing sexual revictimization and physical revictimization, respectively. Each form of revictimization was associated with higher odds of reporting lifetime depression and recent binge eating, but lower odds of having high social support. Physical revictimization was associated with higher odds of obesity (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.38-4.10) and hypertension (AOR, 3.31; 95% CI, 1.70-6.46). Similarly, participants who reported any revictimization were more likely to have obesity (AOR, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.42-3.92) and hypertension (AOR, 2.60; 95% CI, 1.31-5.26). No form of revictimization was associated with a higher odds of diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

The higher odds of obesity and hypertension observed among sexual minority women who reported revictimization reinforce the need for early interventions to reduce cardiometabolic risk in this vulnerable population.

Telling a trusted adult: Factors associated with the likelihood of disclosing child sexual abuse prior to and during a forensic interview

BACKGROUND

Many child sexual abuse (CSA) survivors delay or withhold disclosure of their abuse, even when presenting for formal investigation interviews.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined factors that relate to the CSA disclosure process.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTINGS

Participants were CSA victims (N = 1,732) presenting to a Child Advocacy Center (CAC) for a forensic interview.

METHOD

We tested a structural model to predict disclosure before and during a forensic interview using secondary data analysis.

RESULTS

Youth were less likely to disclose before a forensic interview if they witnessed domestic violence (β = -.233, p <  .05). Caregivers were less likely to believe the abuse allegation if the alleged perpetrator resided in the home β = -.386, p <  .05) and more likely to believe if the youth made a prior disclosure (β = .286, p <  .05). Youth were more likely to disclose during the forensic interview if they were older (β = .388, p <  .05), if the alleged perpetrator resided in their home (β = .209, p <  .05), if they disclosed prior (β = .254, p <  .05), and if their caregiver believed the allegation (β = .213, p < . 05). The alleged perpetrator residing in the youth's home (β = -0.082, p < .05) and making a prior disclosure (β = 0.060, p < .05) were both indirectly associated with forensic interview disclosure through caregiver belief.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings highlight the importance of the family context and caregiver belief in the disclosure process for youth involved in formal CSA investigations.

Sexual victimization and intellectual disabilities among child welfare involved youth

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Youth with intellectual disabilities involved in child welfare systems are at greater risk of sexual victimization than youth who have not been investigated for child maltreatment. This study addresses a gap in the literature regarding older youth with intellectual disabilities who are sexually victimized and pushed to engage in transactional sex while they are transitioning from child welfare systems involvement. It does so by examining risk and protective factors at the individual, micro, exo, and macro systems levels.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

This study included 334 youth ages 18-19.5 from a nationally representative sample of 5,872 child welfare-involved youth.

METHODS

Multivariate logistic regression models were used to conduct a secondary analysis of the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being II to examine relationships between intellectual ability, social support, and community environment and sexual victimization and engaging in transactional sex.

RESULTS

Results indicate that 2.5 % of the youth experienced sexual victimization in the past 12 months, and 3.9 % had engaged in transactional sex in the past 6 months. The mean intelligence score for these youth was one standard deviation below average (M = 84.62, SD = 19.60). Being female was associated with experiencing sexual victimization (Odds Ratio = 17.29, p = .025). Higher intellectual ability scores were associated with lower odds of engaging in paid sexual activity (Odds Ratio = 0.92, p = .002).

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the need for early identification of intellectual disabilities among child welfare-involved youth, provision of informed social supports and services, and building community connections during transition to prevent sexual victimization.

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.

Addressing Intimate Partner Violence to Improve Women's Preconception Health

Exposure to violence can harm women's overall health and well-being. Data suggest that one in three women in the United States experience some form of violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. In this commentary, we describe the implications of intimate partner violence (IPV) on women's health, specifically for women of reproductive age. We use a life-course perspective to describe the compounded impact of IPV on preconception health. Preconception health generally refers to the overall health and well-being of women (and men) before pregnancy. This report also discusses primary prevention of IPV and healthcare recommendations, and highlights surveillance systems that capture IPV indicators among women of reproductive age. Ongoing collection of state-level surveillance data may inform the implementation of intervention programs tailored to reproductive age women at risk for IPV.