7,617 research outputs found

    Our Vulnerable Teenagers: Their Victimization, Its Consequences, and Directions for Prevention and Intervention

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    Teenagers are twice as likely as any other age group to be victims of violent crime, and one in five teenagers report being the victim of a violent crime, according to a new report. The single greatest factor in predicting criminal behavior on the part of teenagers, the report also found, was not teenage pregnancy, drug use, or truancy, but whether they had been a victim of crime. This publication provides a new and comprehensive analysis of existing -- but largely unnoticed -- research and data on the crime experiences of American teenagers ages 12-19, who make up about 14 percent of the general population, but represent 25 percent of victims of violent crime

    Latina Adolescent Dating Violence Public Narrative

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    A scholarly project has been conducted to assess use of public narrative between health care providers (HCPs) and Latina adolescents to reduce dating violence (DV) health consequences. Latina adolescents require an innovative, transcultural approach for dating violence care to reduce barriers to care. Healthcare providers must structure dating violence care to Latina adolescents due to different dating violence patterns and health consequences compared to other ethnicities and generations. There is minimal evidence- based research on the use of public narrative and its effects of use in the healthcare setting. The application of public narrative and the citizen professional will be presented to healthcare providers at a community-based clinic that predominantly treats Latino patients. The overall conclusion was that the use of public narrative and the citizen professional could benefit Latina adolescent dating violence care. The healthcare providers see more Latina adults than adolescents that suffer from dating violence but conclude that public narrative and citizen professional would be beneficial for Latina adults as well. Further investigation needs to be done to address Latina adolescent perspectives on public narrative and citizen professional utilization for dating violence in the healthcare setting. Overall, this scholarly project enhances the advanced nursing practice by developing a cost-effective, transcultural approach towards improving healthcare for Latina adolescent dating violence victims

    Rape Messaging

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    When feminists began advocating for rape reform in the 1970s, the rape message was clear: rape was not a crime to be taken seriously because women lie. After decades of criminal law reform, the legal requirement that a woman vigorously resist a man’s sexual advances to prove that she was raped has largely disappeared from the statute books, and, in theory, rape shield laws make a woman’s prior sexual history irrelevant. Yet, despite what the law dictates, rape law reforms have not had a “trickle-down” effect, where changes in law lead to changes in attitude. Women are still believed to be vindictive shrews so police continue to code rape allegations as “unfounded,” and prosecutors continue to elect not to prosecute many rape cases. To many, “no” can sometimes still mean “yes.” In short, criminal law reforms have only marginally succeeded at deterring rape and increasing conviction rates for rape. At the same time, criminal law reforms have entrenched gender norms and endorsed the message that acquaintance rapes are less worthy of harsh punishment. This Article argues against further ex post criminal law reforms and posits that efforts should shift to ex ante public health interventions. This Article draws from recent successful experiences with public health interventions in destigmatizing AIDS and denormalizing tobacco and advocates for a robust public health campaign to denormalize rape. It presents a detailed proposal for changing rape messaging, denormalizing rape, and ensuring better outcomes for victims

    Measuring Polyvictimization Among Vulnerable Children: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis

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    The purpose of this study was to test the pathways to polyvictimization model, a conceptual model developed by Dr. David Finkelhor, as an accurate measure of victimization among children in fragile families. Polyvictimization is the simultaneous, accumulative exposure to multiple forms of victimization. Finkelhor’s pathways to polyvictimization model consisted of four hypothesized pathways to becoming polyvictimized. The four pathways include a) residing in a dangerous community, b) living in a dangerous family, c) having a chaotic, multi-problem family environment, and d) the child has emotional or behavioral problems that increase risk behavior, engender antagonism, and compromise the capacity to protect oneself. While researching the pathways it was decided that seven victimization types from the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire - the questionnaire from which the pathways to polyvictimization were developed – needed to be included in the hypothesized polyvictimization measurement model. This study used a correlational research design that utilized data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a national, longitudinal research study that examined the possible consequences of childbearing outside of marriage. The Social-Ecological Model was used as the framework for this study. Using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), the 11-factor hypothesized polyvictimization measurement model was tested to see if it could accurately assess victimization among children. CFA was also used to identify the strongest indicators of victimization in the model and to identify if the four hypothesized pathways to polyvictimization were able to predict the seven victimization types. Results found that the hypothesized polyvictimization measurement model is an accurate measure to assess victimization among children. Strong indicators of victimization were identified and strong correlation and predictor measures were discovered. Polyvictimization often goes undetected and persists over long periods of time. Children who experience polyvictimization need to be identified because they are at particularly high risk of additional victimization and traumatic psychological effects. Nurses and other health care professionals need to be able to identify children on the path to polyvictimization or those children who are polyvictimized so that they might be able to direct prevention resources to these children and their families to prevent vulnerable children from becoming polyvictimized

    Elder Victimization and Routine Activities: An Examination of the Predictors of Fraud and Burglary for those Age 60 and Older

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    As the elderly population continues to grow, the victimization of the elderly becomes an increasingly important topic. While there is a great deal of research on victimization, most of that research has focused on young adults, those who commit the majority of crimes. What research on the elderly and crime does exist has focused on either fear of crime or elder abuse. The criminal victimization of the elderly is not considered. The current study tested the applicability of routine activities lifestyles theory to the criminal victimization of the elderly for two crimes: burglary and fraud. Using multiple waves of data from the Health and Retirement Study, the roles of target vulnerability, exposure to motivated offenders, presence of guardians, and engaging in risky behavior on criminal victimization were examined. A series of binary logistic regressions were run to test the impact of these factors. Additionally, two subsamples, looking at family related factors, were examined. The study found that findings based on studies of younger individuals that prior victimization is one of the strongest predictors of victimization could be applied to the elderly. Most individuals age out of crime and victimization, but others who do not. Additionally, being Hispanic, having financial difficulties, and, in some cases, relationship quality and problems with family members also influenced the odds of victimization

    Childern Witnessing Domestic Violence

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    Statement of Problem: Although witnessing violence in the family may account for many symptoms brought to the attention of the primary care providers, such violence is seldom identified as an issue. The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of children witnessing violence in the home, as self reported by victims of domestic violence in a clinical setting. Method: The study was a retrospective chart review. Data was gathered from a survey administered to individuals identified in the emergency department as victims of domestic violence. The survey addressed demographics, child witnesses to violence, and co-factors of violence including child abuse, alcohol use and weapons in the home. Results: Out of the 120 participants, the highest proportion was categorized as single/divorced. This study found that 75% of the children witnessed domestic violence in the home, as self-reported by victims of domestic violence. The mean age of the children was 8.4 years. The incidence of concurrent child abuse was 19%. The victims of domestic violence self-reported a much higher rate of alcohol use by the perpetrator as compared to their own alcohol use. Conclusion: The findings indicate that children as witnesses to domestic violence is alarmingly high. Universal screening by health care providers ensures that not only are adult victims identified, but also the needs of the children are not overlooked. It is mandatory to identify children living in violent homes so their emotional and physical health can be preserved at the earliest developmental age possible
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