Citation

Pereda N, Abad J, Guilera G, Arch M. Gac. Sanit. 2015; 29(5): 328-334.

Vernacular Title

Victimización sexual autorreportada en adolescentes españoles comunitarios y en colectivos de riesgo.

Affiliation

Grup de Recerca en Victimització Infantil i Adolescent (GReVIA), Departament de Personalitat, Avaluació i Tractament Psicològics, Facultat de Psicologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.gaceta.2015.05.003

PMID

26115891

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent of sexual victimization in four groups of Spanish adolescents based on their own reports.

METHOD: An observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study was conducted. Sexual victimization was assessed by seven questions included in the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire. The samples were composed of 1,105 adolescents (mean age [M]=14.52, standard deviation [SD]=1.76) from seven secondary schools; 149 adolescents (M=14.28; SD=1.45) from 14 child and adolescent mental health centers; 129 adolescents (M=14.59, SD=1.62) institutionalized in 18 long-term (78.3%) and short-term (21.7%) residential centers belonging to the child protection system; and 101 adolescents (M=16.08, SD=0.99) recruited from three detention centers (77.2%) and five open regime teams or follow-up services for court orders for minors not requiring loss of freedom (22.8%).

RESULTS: The extent of lifetime sexual victimization ranged from 14.7% of the adolescents in the community sample to 23.5% of youths attended in mental health services, 35.6% of youths involved in the juvenile justice system, and 36.4% of children protected by the child welfare system. Most of the victims were female, the only exception being the group of male victims from the juvenile justice system.

CONCLUSIONS: Sexual victimization of children is widespread in Spain and its distribution differs depending on the group of children under study.

Language: es