Victimization and Poly Victimization in Adolescent Outpatients from Mental Health Centers: A Case Control Study
The aims of the present study were to establish interpersonal victimization rates in a clinical sample and to analyze this sample's risk of victimization relative to the general population. The sample was composed of 472 adolescents (12 17 years of age) 118 outpatients from public mental health centers and 354 students who were matched by age and sex. Following previous studies, this research defined poly victimization as four or more victimization types occurring during the previous year. The clinical group was more likely to report sexual victimization (OR 9.540) conventional crime (OR 3.120) caregiver victimization (OR 3.469) witnessing and indirect victimization (OR 3.466) electronic victimization (OR 2.809) and poly victimization (OR 4.319) compared with the control group. Clinical samples present an increased risk of interpersonal poly victimization compared with the general population. The influence of poly victimization on mental health should be considered in the evaluation and treatment of adolescent outpatients.
Journal of Family Violence