Psychopathological Correlates of Polyvictimization in Young Offenders

Previous research has demonstrated a significant relationship between victimization and involvement in delinquency, but few studies have focused on exploring the effects of victimization on young offenders. This study analyzed the relationship between accumulated experiences of victimization, or pol...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Álvarez-Lister, María Soledad, Pereda Beltran, Noemí, Guilera Ferré, Georgina
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2016
País:España
Institución:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositorio:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:2445/223013
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/223013
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Psicopatologia de l'adolescència
Administració de justícia de menors
Víctimes
Delinqüència juvenil
Adolescent psychopathology
Administration of juvenile justice
Victims
Juvenile delinquency
Descripción
Sumario:Previous research has demonstrated a significant relationship between victimization and involvement in delinquency, but few studies have focused on exploring the effects of victimization on young offenders. This study analyzed the relationship between accumulated experiences of victimization, or polyvictimization, and the presence of psychopathology in 100 Spanish offenders (81% males) aged 14 to 17 years (M = 16.08, SD = 0.99). By means of cluster analysis, three groups of polyvictimized and two groups of less victimized offenders were identified. After controlling for demographic and criminal characteristics, polyvictims were more likely to reach a clinical level (T 65) of externalizing behavior (odds ratio [OR] = 3.136) and general impairment (OR = 2.878) than the remaining adolescents. These results showed that assessing multiple and less common forms of victimization is an important task when evaluating adolescent offenders, as polyvictimization is highly prevalent and places young people at a high risk of psychological impairment.