Research on the trajectory and influential factors of poly-victimization: A longitudinal study of Chinese adolescents

• Published in: Child abuse & neglect 2024-07, Vol.153, p.106812, Article 106812
• Main Authors: Zhou, Jiajun, Wen, Pan, Luo, Yandong, Chang, Ping, Li, Liping
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Bullying - psychology; Bullying - statistics & numerical data; China - epidemiology; Crime Victims - psychology; Crime Victims - statistics & numerical data; East Asian People; Female; Group-based trajectory modeling; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Poly-victimization; Risk Factors; Suicidal Ideation; Suicide, Attempted - psychology; Suicide, Attempted - statistics & numerical data; Victimization
• ISSN: 0145-2134; 1873-7757; 1873-7757
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106812

Poly-victimization is more detrimental to adolescents' physical and mental health than is a single type of victimization. However, there has been limited research on the trajectory of poly-victimization among Chinese adolescents. Identify the different developmental trajectories of poly-victimization among Chinese adolescents over time and examine the influencing factors of poly-victimization trajectories. Data from four surveys conducted between 2020 and 2022, encompassing a cohort of 319 adolescents who had experienced poly-victimization, were utilized to identify their developmental trajectories via group-based trajectory modeling. Potential influencing factors were screened and compared using ANOVA or chi-square tests, while factors affecting the developmental trajectories of poly-victimization were analyzed through multinomial logistic regression. We identified three poly-victimization trajectories among adolescents: increasing poly-victimization (n = 39, 12.2 %), relieved poly-victimization (n = 228, 71.5 %), and fluctuating poly-victimization (n = 52, 16.3 %). Our findings indicate that boys, and those with poor class grade ranking, a lower level of parental education, lower household economy, smoking, drinking, suicide attempts, and suicide ideation, constitute the primary focus for the prevention and treatment of poly-victimization. We identified three poly-victimization trajectories, highlighting a significant heterogeneity in poly-victimization development. Understanding the characteristics of these developmental trajectories is crucial for realizing the dynamics of different poly-victimization subgroups and informing effective interventions.