Citation

Chan KL. Prev. Med. 2013; 56(3-4): 207-210.

Affiliation

Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong. Electronic address: eklchan@hku.hk.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.12.018

PMID

23295171

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Given the limited number of systematic studies on child victimization in China, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of child victimization and poly-victimization, and to examine the associations between victimization and negative health outcomes. METHOD: Using a 2-stage stratified sampling procedure, 18,341 adolescents aged 15 to 17years old were recruited from 6 cities in China during 2009 and 2010. Adolescents completed a self-administered questionnaire containing items about child victimization and health outcomes (e.g. health-related quality of life, posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD], depression, deliberate self-harm, and suicide ideation). Structured multiphase logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between these factors. RESULTS: The lifetime prevalence of at least one form of victimization was 71%, whereas that of poly-victimization was 14%. Child victimization in the preceding year was associated with gender, age, number of siblings, and location of schools. Child victims were more likely to report PTSD and depressive symptoms, self-harm ideation, and poor physical and mental health. CONCLUSION: This study provided reliable estimates of the association between child victimization and health using a large and diverse sample in China. Based on the nature of the documented associations, several suggestions for public health professionals were offered.

Language: en