Child victimization and polyvictimization among young adults in Northern Chile

This study examined the prevalence of victimization and polyvictimization and gender differences in young adults from Arica in northern Chile. In all, 718 college students participated (46.9% men, 53.1% women), aged between 17 and 28 years old (M = 21.6; SD = 4.11). The Spanish version of Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire ( JVQ) was used to access five categories of child victimization (conventional crime, child maltreatment, peer and siblings victimization, sexual victimization, and indirect victimization). In total, 98.7% of young adults reported at least one type of victimization throughout their life. In general, males are more exposed to victimization for conventional crimes and indirect victimization and women to sexual victimization and bullying. A total of 89.1% of the sample was considered polyvictims (i.e., experienced five or more forms of victimization). This research provides information about the epidemiology of victimization and polyvictimization in young adults in the international cont...