Victimization, polyvictimization, and depression symptoms among immigrants and native children and youth in Chile.

BACKGROUND: Migration exposes children and youth to vulnerabilities, including uprooting, lack of protection, limited access to services, and violence. Previous studies have shown that victimization experiences impact the mental health of migrant children, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. This study aims to examine the co-occurrence of multiple forms of maltreatment (polyvictimization) among migrant and Chilean children and youth and its association with depressive symptoms, addressing a research gap in Latin America. METHODS: Secondary data from the National Polyvictimization Survey (NPS) conducted by the Chilean Ministry of the Interior were analyzed. Measures assessing polyvictimization and depressive symptoms were administered to a sample of 1362 participants, with equal group sizes for migrants and Chilean-born individuals. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, group comparisons, correlation analyses, and multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: The study revealed marked differences in experiences of conventional crime victimization and polyvictimization between migrant and Chilean-born participants, with migrants facing slightly higher incidences. Correlational analysis indicated variable strengths of association between victimization types and depressive symptoms across groups, with Chilean-born individuals showing stronger correlations for certain victimization forms. Multiple regression analysis highlighted gender, polyvictimization, child maltreatment, internet victimization, sexual victimization, and peer/sibling victimization as significant predictors of depressive symptoms across the sample. Notably, an interaction was observed between child maltreatment and migrant status, indicating a mitigated impact of maltreatment on depressive symptoms among migrant adolescents. This suggests the potential for unique resilience or coping mechanisms in this group. CONCLUSIONS: This study elucidates the varied victimization experiences of migrant children and youth in Chile, with a notable emphasis on the mitigating effect of migrant status on the relationship between child maltreatment and depressive symptoms. It highlights the resilience and potential adaptive strategies of migrant minors facing adversity. The findings underscore the necessity of developing support and intervention strategies that recognize the specific needs and strengths of migrant children and youth, advocating for policies that protect and empower this vulnerable demographic amidst new environmental challenges.

An Exploratory Study on Mental Health, Social Problems and Spiritual Damage in Victims of Child Sexual Abuse by Catholic Clergy and Other Perpetrators.

The Catholic Church has faced a large number of complaints against its representatives for sexual crimes that involved children and adolescents as victims. The objective of this study was to characterize the dynamics of this type of event, its characteristics, and its effects in terms of mental health and social consequences, as well as the spiritual damage generated. The sample comprised 182 victims from Spain and Chile, divided into three mutually exclusive groups (n = 40 committed by a representative of the Catholic Church; n = 85 by a family member; n = 57 by a perpetrator outside the family and the Church). The results show that victims of child sexual abuse (CSA) by a representative of the Catholic Church and other perpetrators are similar in many respects (e.g., religiosity, characteristics of the abuse, and mental health and social problems), but that the effects on religiosity are more serious for victims of the clergy, affecting their belief in God. Finally, the extreme decline in belief in God, due to CSA, is an important predictor for most mental health and social problems. Our results show the need to include the Catholic identity, faith and spirituality in the therapeutic context.

A Recurring Nightmare: Risk and Protective Factors for Revictimization of Child Sexual Abuse in Chile.

Child and adolescent victims of sexual crimes are at high risk for further abuse, which translates in a relatively higher risk of revictimization for a child or adolescent who has already been a victim of sexual abuse, compared to one who has not. Although sexual revictimization has been extensively studied in young and adult populations, much less is known about occurrences in childhood and adolescence. In this vein, this article seeks to identify risk of, and protective factors against, revictimization in a census sample of victims under 18 years of age in Chile. Risk and protective factors were studied in a database of all complaints of sexual offenses against children and adolescents registered at two time-points over two years: first, during 2012, and again through January 2015. Using multiple logistic regression, we identified risk factors associated with the probability of sexual revictimization, such as sex of the perpetrator (OR = 3.6 for female perpetrators), previous sexual offenses attributed to perpetrators (OR = 1.8), age of victim at the time of abuse (6-12 OR = .77; 13-17 = OR = .69), and minimization of abuse (OR = 1.3). Finally, interaction tests identified an association between the sex of the original perpetrator and the sex of the victim, as well as an association between the sex of the original perpetrator and the age of the victim. The implications of these findings for victim protection and victimological public policy are discussed.

Graves vulneraciones de derechos en la infancia y adolescencia: variables de funcionamiento familiar / Serious Violations of Rights in Children and Adolescents: Variables of Family Functioning

Resumen La presente investigación tiene por objetivo determinar las características y problemáticas que se presentan en el funcionamiento familiar de 389 niños, niñas y adolescentes víctimas de graves vulneraciones de derechos en Chile, mediante la aplicación de la Escala deEvaluación Familiar de Carolina del Norte (NCFAS-G). Sus resultados identifican problemáticas centrales en esta muestra, tales como una moderada vulnerabilidad socioeconómica, dificultades en las interacciones entre sus miembros y con su entorno (familia, vecindario), así como debilitamiento de las competencias parentales.Se concluye que las variables de dinámica relacional de la familia y la pareja, los vínculos afectivos, la parentalidad y la autonomía familiar requieren ser abordadas mediante una intervención integral, sistémica, coordinada y oportuna.

Abstract The present research aims to determine the characteristics and problems that occur in the family functioning of 389 children and adolescents victims of serious violations of rights in Chile, through the implementation of the North Carolina Family Assessment Scale (NCFAS-G). The results identify central problems in this sample, such as a moderate socio-economic vulnerability, difficulties in the interactions between their members and their environment (family, neighbourhood), as well as weakening of parental competences. The conclusion is that the variables of relational dynamics of the family and the couple, affective bonds, parenthood and family autonomy need to be addressed through an integral, systemic, coordinated and timely intervention.

Factores de riesgo de homicidio de la mujer en la relación de pareja / Homicide Risk Factors Against Woman in a Couple Relationship

Con base en una revisión sistemática de estudios empíricos publicados entre los años 2000 y 2011, se identificaron los factores de riesgo de homicidio en contra de la mujer en el contexto de las relaciones de pareja, a partir de 17 investigaciones realizadas en EE. UU, Australia, España, el Reino Unido y Países Bajos. Particularmente, se analizan y discuten los hallazgos respecto a los factores de riesgo desde la perspectiva del perpetrador, la víctima, su relación de pareja y su contexto. Finalmente, se concluye la necesidad de determinar factores específicos de riesgo para la realidad latinoamericana, problematizando también en torno a las repercusiones de las políticas públicas en materia de violencia contra la mujer y su impacto en el nivel de riesgo vital experimentado por ellas.

Based on a systematic review of empirical studies published between 2000 and 2011, it is identified homicide risk factors against women in the context of couple relationships, from 17 researches in USA, Australia, Spain, the UK and Netherlands. In particular, it is analyzes and discusses findings regarding to the risk factors from the focus of the perpetrator, the victim, the couple relationship and its context. Finally, it is concludes the need to identify and determinate specific risk factors for the Latin American context, discussing about the impact of public policies on violence against women and its influence on the level of life risk they experience.