Victimization and Polyvictimization Among Spanish Adolescent Outpatients

Abstract

This article aimed to analyze lifetime and past-year victimization and polyvictimization experiences in adolescent outpatients from a southern European country. The sample included 149 adolescents (35.6% boys, 64.4% girls), aged 12 to 17 (M = 14.28, SD = 1.45). Experiences of victimization were assessed using the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ; Finkelhor, Hamby, Ormrod, & Turner, 2005). Results showed that 99.3% of those interviewed had experienced at least one type of victimization during their lifetime, and 84.6% reported past-year victimization. Gender and age differences were found. Based on community criteria, the proportion of polyvictims in the sample was 32.2% for lifetime victimization and 20.1% for past-year victimization. When assessing children in the context of outpatient mental health services, it is essential that clinicians explore any history of exposure to violence, as this information is crucial in determining the young person’s therapeutic needs.

KEYWORDS:

• adolescents
• clinical
• outpatients
• polyvictimization
• victimization

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

In addition to the authors, the following individuals were members of the GReVIA collaborative group: Francesc X. Arrufat (Psiquiatria i Salut Mental del Consorci Hospitalari de Vic); Lurdes Duñó, Luis Miguel Martín, and Marta Aceña (INAD-Parc de Salut Mar); Montserrat Pàmias (CSMIJ Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí); Fernando Lacasa (CSMIJ Cornellà de Llobregat, HSJD); Núria López (CSMIJ Granollers, HSJD); Teresa Ribalta and Montserrat Palau (Fundació Orienta: Sílvia Bonfill, CSMIJ Sant Boi); Tuulikki Trias (CSMIJ El Prat de Llobregat); Maria de Querol (CSMIJ Castelldefels); Esther Urpinas (CSMIJ Gavà); Montserrat Balcells (CSMIJ Hospitalet de Llobregat); Montserrat Daniel (Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau); Montserrat Nogués (CSMIJ Sant Pere Claver); and Mireia Escardíbul (CSMIJ Fundació Eulàlia Torres de Beà – Sant Andreu).

ORCID

Noemí Pereda

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5329-9323

Georgina Guilera

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4941-2511

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MEC), Grant No. DER2012-38559-C03-02.