Re-victimization patterns Re-victimization patterns in a national longitudinal in a national longitudinal sample of children and sample of children and

youthyouthDAVID FINKELHOR, RICHARD K. ORMROD, HEATHER A. TURNERDAVID FINKELHOR, RICHARD K. ORMROD, HEATHER A. TURNER

Reviewed by Nina Bersabal & Amanda GegorReviewed by Nina Bersabal & Amanda Gegor

October 28, 2008October 28, 2008

PSYC 308 UMBCPSYC 308 UMBC

backgroundbackground

• Definitions of re-victimizationDefinitions of re-victimization• Connection between childhood victimization Connection between childhood victimization

and adult victimizationand adult victimization• Repeat victimization (two victimizations Repeat victimization (two victimizations

occurring in closer proximity)occurring in closer proximity)• Recurrence of episode of child maltreatment Recurrence of episode of child maltreatment

typically at hands of same perpetrator typically at hands of same perpetrator

• Additions for this articleAdditions for this article• Considering victimization broadlyConsidering victimization broadly• Victimization is ongoingVictimization is ongoing• How individuals escape re-victimizationHow individuals escape re-victimization

introducdtionintroducdtion

• Objective: To understand persistent Objective: To understand persistent victimization for children from one year to the victimization for children from one year to the nextnext

• Key Questions:Key Questions:• Increased likelihood to be victimized again?Increased likelihood to be victimized again?• Does one sort increase victimization for another Does one sort increase victimization for another

sort?sort?• Are highly victimized youth in one year Are highly victimized youth in one year

vulnerable to re-victimization?vulnerable to re-victimization?• Risk factors and resilience factors?Risk factors and resilience factors?

MethodsMethods

• National sample of 1467 childrenNational sample of 1467 children

• Age 2 – 17 Age 2 – 17

• Recruited through random digit dialingRecruited through random digit dialing

• Assessed vial telephone interviews Assessed vial telephone interviews (caretakers and youth)(caretakers and youth)

• Asked about comprehensive range of Asked about comprehensive range of victimization experiences in previous yearvictimization experiences in previous year

• Re-assessed after one-year intervalRe-assessed after one-year interval

measurementmeasurement

• VictimizationVictimization• Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ)Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ)

• Provides description of 34 offenses that cover five Provides description of 34 offenses that cover five general areasgeneral areas

• Multiple victimizations defined as victimizations Multiple victimizations defined as victimizations of a different type occurring as part of a of a different type occurring as part of a separate incidentseparate incident

• ““Poly-victims” were identified as children with Poly-victims” were identified as children with four or more different types of victimization four or more different types of victimization within the same year)within the same year)

• Possible Predictor VariablesPossible Predictor Variables• Personal, household, and location factors, life Personal, household, and location factors, life

events, trauma symptoms, etc.events, trauma symptoms, etc.

Table 1: Victimization rates, re-victimization, Table 1: Victimization rates, re-victimization, and desisting in a national sample of children and desisting in a national sample of children

followed for 2 yearsfollowed for 2 years

Aggregate Victimization Type

Victimzation Rate (%)

Risk of re-victimization

Re-victimized (%)

Desisted (%)

New victims (%)

Year 1 Year 2

Physical assault

55 49 2.2 65 35 27

Peer/sibling V

61 52 2.2 66 34 23

Sexual V 8 8 6.9 39 62 61

Maltreat-ment

14 10 6.7 36 64 49

Witness/indirect V

38 33 3.6 60 40 32

Poly-V 23 17 5.1 46 54 40

Table 2: re-victimization across Table 2: re-victimization across different types of victimizationdifferent types of victimization

Year 2 V

Year 1 V Physical Assault

Peer/sibling V

Sexual V Maltreat-ment

Witness/indirect V

Poly-V

Physical Assault

2.2 2.1 2.8 2.8 1.6 3.8

Peer/sibling V

2.1 2.2 3.2 3.1 1.6 3.8

Sexual V 1.2 1.1 6.9 3.7 2.1 3.3

Maltreat-ment

1.3 1.2 4.3 6.7 1.6 3.5

Witness/indirect V

1.7 1.2 6.4 3.3 3.6 5.2

Poly-V 1.6 1.5 6.8 4.3 2.4 5.1

resultsresults

• Risk for re-victimization highRisk for re-victimization high• Any one type left substantial vulnerability even for Any one type left substantial vulnerability even for

different types of subsequent re-victimizationdifferent types of subsequent re-victimization• ““Poly-victims” were at particularly high risk of Poly-victims” were at particularly high risk of

persistent poly-victimizationpersistent poly-victimization• Persistent poly-victimization Persistent poly-victimization high scores on high scores on

anger/aggression scores and recent life adversitiesanger/aggression scores and recent life adversities• Desistent poly-victimization Desistent poly-victimization having more good having more good

friendsfriends• Onset of poly-victimization Onset of poly-victimization violent or maltreating violent or maltreating

families, family problems, and family disruptionsfamilies, family problems, and family disruptions• Older sibling = both risk and protective factor for Older sibling = both risk and protective factor for

different age groupdifferent age group• CONCLUSION: Children suffer from considerable burden CONCLUSION: Children suffer from considerable burden

of victimization that is both diverse and repetitiveof victimization that is both diverse and repetitive

discussiondiscussion

• Reconfirms children suffer high quantities of Reconfirms children suffer high quantities of different sorts of victimizationdifferent sorts of victimization

• Emphasizes such victimizations have very Emphasizes such victimizations have very high likelihood of persistinghigh likelihood of persisting

• May be generalized causal pathways to May be generalized causal pathways to explain re-victimizationexplain re-victimization

• Didn’t identify any other positive desistence Didn’t identify any other positive desistence factors except for social network/supportfactors except for social network/support

• Start earlier and longer longitudinal study Start earlier and longer longitudinal study

referencesreferences

Finkelhor, David, Richard K. Ormrod & Heather A. Finkelhor, David, Richard K. Ormrod & Heather A. Turner. (2007). Re-victimization patterns in a Turner. (2007). Re-victimization patterns in a national longitudinal sample of children and national longitudinal sample of children and youth. youth. Child Abuse & NeglectChild Abuse & Neglect. 31, 479 – 502.. 31, 479 – 502.

Miller-Perrin, Cindy & R. D. Perrin. (2006). Miller-Perrin, Cindy & R. D. Perrin. (2006). Child Child MaltreatmentMaltreatment. Second edition. Thousand Oaks, . Second edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.CA: Sage.