Victimisation, poly-victimisation and health-related quality of life among high school students in Vietnam: a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: In high and upper-middle income countries poly-victimisation (exposure to multiple forms of victimisation) is associated with worse health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among adolescents. There is a lack of empirical evidence about these associations from low- and lower-middle income countries. The aims of this study were to examine the associations between exposure to 1) individual forms of victimisation and 2) poly-victimisation and the HRQoL of adolescents in Vietnam. METHOD: A cross-sectional, anonymously-completed survey of high school students in Hanoi, Vietnam. Lifetime exposure to eight individual forms of victimisation and poly-victimisation were assessed using the Juvenile Victimisation Questionnaire Revised-2 (JVQ R2). Health-related quality of life was assessed using the Duke Health Profile Adolescent Version (DHP-A). Bi-variate analyses and multiple linear regressions were conducted to assess the associations between individual forms of victimisation, poly-victimisation and HRQoL among girls and boys. RESULTS: In total 1616/1745 students (92.6 %) completed the questionnaire. Adolescent girls had significantly worse HRQoL than boys in all domains, except disability. Different forms of victimisation were associated with different HRQoL domains among girls and boys. Cyber victimisation was the most detrimental to girls' HRQoL while for boys maltreatment was the most detrimental. Experiences of poly-victimisation were associated with worse HRQoL in physical, mental, social and general health, lower levels of self-esteem and increased levels of anxiety, depression and pain domains among both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: Among Vietnamese adolescents, experiences of individual forms of victimisation were associated with poorer HRQoL in specific domains; the most detrimental forms of victimisation varied for girls and boys. However, it was experiences of poly-victimisation that had the most detrimental impacts on the HRQoL of both sexes. Recognition of violence, including poly-victimisation, is still low in Vietnam. These data indicate that community education, prevention and early intervention programs to reduce violent victimisation and assist adolescents who have experienced it, with attention to gender differences, are needed in Vietnam.

The spread of fake news: Disclosure willingness role.

The epidemic has had a profound negative impact on individuals worldwide, leading to pervasive anxiety, fear, and mental instability. Exploiting these fears, a significant amount of fake information proliferates and spreads rapidly on social networks. This study explores the factors that cause individuals to believe fake news under stressful and fearful conditions by applying the truth-default theory. Data was collected online in Vietnam, using Smart PLS software to analyze the research model. The findings indicated that risk perception, media trust, trust in celebrity posts, and stress were factors that urge users to believe news posted on social media, and even they actively share this news on their own channels. Disclosure willingness moderated the relationship between adoption fake news and sharing it. Both theoretical and practical implications were discussed.

Examining factors that boost intention and loyalty to use Fintech post-COVID-19 lockdown as a new normal behavior.

This study predicts factors affecting the tendency to use financial technology (Fintech) services post-COVID-19 lockdown as a new normal behavior. Fintech services have boosted the number of users during the COVID-19 lockdown. However, to maintain the loyal behavior of consumers after usage, firms need to predict key reasons to enhance their intention to use the service and maintain current consumers in the long term. This study offers a model to assess the components of the perceived usefulness toward Fintech. Data were collected via Mechanical Turk (MTurk), and structural equation modeling was used to predict the factors that influence the intention and loyalty to use Fintech post-COVID-19 lockdown. The findings reveal that the COVID-19 lockdown, trust, data security and privacy, and especially staff services are factors that enhance the intention to use through perceived usefulness. In return, it builds consumers' loyalty toward Fintech services and is considered a new normal behavior. This research sheds light on how Fintech firms develop their capabilities and increase their competitive advantages. Both theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.

Social comparison effects on brand addiction: A mediating role of materialism.

This research explores the role of materialism, and social comparison to brand addiction in relation to compulsive buying. A structural equation modeling was used to analyze data through partial least squares by collecting online data in Vietnam. The research findings explain social comparison is an antecedent leading to addictive behavior. Materialism mediates and increases the addictive behavior when consumers are significantly impacted by social comparison. In addition, brand addiction leads to word-of-mouth and willingness to pay premium price when consumers are set under social comparison and materialistic tendency. The managerial and theoretical application is also provided in this research.

Polyvictimization Among Children and Adolescents in Low- and Lower-Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Most of the world's children and adolescents live in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LALMIC), but there is limited evidence about polyvictimization (experiences of multiple forms of victimization) among them. The aims of this article were to systematically review the evidence from LALMIC about the overall prevalence of polyvictimization and to identify the associations between polyvictimization and health and well-being among children and adolescents. METHOD: A systematic search of the English-language peer-reviewed literature to identify empirical, quantitative studies conducted in LALMIC between 2005 and 2015, assessing at least four forms of victimization among young people aged up to 19 years. Where prevalence of any victimization and of polyvictimization were reported, meta-analyses were performed. RESULTS: A total of 30/8,496 articles were included in the review. Evidence was available from 16/84 LALMIC and methodology and quality varied. Pooled prevalence of experiences of any victimization was 76.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) [64.8%, 88.9%]). Prevalence of polyvictimization ranged from 0.3% to 74.7% with an overall estimate of 38.1% (95% CI [18.3%, 57.8%]). None of the studies examined the associations between polyvictimization and physical or reproductive health or quality of life. Polyvictimization was associated with increased likelihood of mental health problems and involvement in health risk behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Experiences of polyvictimization among children and adolescents in LALMIC are more prevalent than in high- and upper-middle-income countries and contribute to the burden of poor health among children and adolescents. Most LALMIC lack local data, and research is required to address this knowledge gap.

Poly-victimisation and health risk behaviours, symptoms of mental health problems and suicidal thoughts and plans among adolescents in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: Limited evidence is available about poly-victimisation (exposure to multiple forms of victimisation) and mental health among adolescents in low and lower-middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between lifetime exposure to poly-victimisation, health risk behaviours, symptoms of common mental health problems and suicidal ideas in the previous year among high school students in Vietnam. METHODS: Participants were high school students in rural and urban districts of Hanoi, Vietnam. The data source was an anonymously-completed structured self-report survey. Lifetime exposure to poly-victimisation was assessed using the juvenile victimisation questionnaire revised 2 (JVQ R-2); mental health symptoms by the depression, anxiety and stress scale-21 (DASS-21); involvement in health risk behaviours and previous year suicidal thoughts and plans by questions adapted from the 2013 youth risk behaviour survey. Data were collected between October, 2013 and January, 2014 and were analysed using generalised structural equation modelling. RESULTS: In total 1616/1745 (92.6 %) eligible students provided complete data. Prior year suicidal thoughts were reported by 21.4 % (95 % CI 18.5-24.5 %) of the female respondents and 7.9 % (95 % CI 6.2-9.8 %) of the male respondents. Prior year suicidal plans were reported by 7.8 % (95 % CI 5.9-9.8 %) of the girls and 4.0 % (95 % CI 2.7-5.3 %) of the boys. Poly-victimisation was associated with increased likelihood of involvement in health risk behaviours and symptoms of common mental health problems among both sexes, which increased adolescents' risk of having suicidal ideas in the previous year. Compared to non-victims or victims of fewer forms, poly-victims were also more likely to report suicidal thoughts and plans among both girls and boys (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the results revealed that poly-victimisation was associated with increased involvement in health risk behaviours, poorer mental health and increased risks of suicidal ideas among Vietnamese adolescents. Suicidal ideas were prevalent among the students. Interventions to assist victims of violence and prevention of violence, especially poly-victimisation, among adolescents in Vietnam is therefore important.

Poly-Victimisation among Vietnamese High School Students: Prevalence and Demographic Correlates.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to multiple forms of violence, including abuse and crime is termed poly-victimisation. There has been increasing research interest in poly-victimisation among children and adolescents in high income countries. However, experiences among adolescents living in low- and lower-middle-income countries are yet to be examined. AIMS: To establish the prevalence of lifetime exposure to poly-victimisation and demographic characteristics of victims among high school students in Vietnam. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey with a self-report, anonymous questionnaire was conducted in ten high schools in Hanoi, Vietnam between October 2013 and January 2014. Poly-victimisation was assessed using the Juvenile Victimisation Questionnaire Revised 2 (JVQ R2). RESULTS: A total of 1,606/1,745 (92.0%) eligible students provided data and were included in the analyses. Lifetime exposure to at least one form of victimisation was reported by 94.3% (95%CI: 92.5-95.4%) of participants and lifetime exposure to more than 10 forms by 31.1% (95%CI: 27.8-33.5%). Poly-victimisation was associated with experiencing more adverse life events, having a chronic disease or disability, living with a step-parent, experiencing family life as unhappy, being disciplined at school, and living in a rural area. Poly-victimisation experiences differed among students from the three types of high schools in Vietnam. CONCLUSIONS: These data reveal the prevalence and multi-factorial risks of exposure to poly-victimisation among adolescents in Vietnam. Prevalence rates of different forms of victimisation among Vietnamese students, including those previously un-investigated, were higher than those reported in other settings. Poly-victimisation was also common among them. There were certain subgroups who were more vulnerable to poly-victimisation. Further research to understand the broader aspects of adolescence in Vietnam, including poly-victimisation, is thus recommended. Special attention should be paid to specific subgroups in the prevention of violence against children and adolescents in this setting. Education to raise awareness about poly-victimisation among the community is needed.