Sexism and intimate partner violence in adolescents

Objetivo: A pesar de los esfuerzos para reducir la desigualdad de género, el sexismo persiste. Todavía son escasos los estudios sobre este fenómeno que contemplen variables como el deseo sexual o los antecedentes migratorios. El objetivo del estudio es analizar las circunstancias sociales (individuales y del contexto inmediato) asociadas al sexismo y su relación con la conducta violenta en la pareja en población adolescente. Método: Estudio transversal con 1421 estudiantes de 13 a 17 años de Alicante y Terrassa (2019-2020). El sexismo se midió mediante el Ambivalent Sexism Inventory, que valora el sexismo ambivalente, hostil y benevolente. Se utilizaron modelos lineales generalizados estratificados por sexo para identificar variables asociadas al sexismo, y regresión logística para analizar la asociación del sexismo con la conducta violenta en la pareja. Resultados: La probabilidad de puntuar alto en sexismo ambivalente fue mayor en migrantes (chicas y chicos: p < 0,01) e hijos/as de migrantes (chicas: p < 0,01; chicos: p < 0,05). El deseo no heterosexual se asoció negativamente con el sexismo en chicas (benevolente: p < 0,01) y en chicos (ambivalente y hostil: p < 0,01; benevolente: p < 0,05). El sexismo hostil mostró asociación con cometer violencia de pareja, independientemente del resto de las variables, tanto en chicas (odds ratio [OR]: 1,07; intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC95%]: 1,00-1,14) como en chicos (OR: 1,11; IC95%: 1,03-1,20). Conclusiones: El sexismo está presente entre adolescentes y se confirma su relación con la conducta violenta en la pareja. El deseo sexual y los antecedentes migratorios son variables a tener en cuenta en su prevención.Objective: Despite the efforts to reduce gender inequality, sexism persists. There are still few studies on this matter that consider variables such as sexual desire or migration background. The aim of this study is to analyse the social circumstances (individual and from the immediate context) associated with sexism as well as its relationship with intimate partner violence perpetration amongst adolescents. Method: Cross-sectional study with 1421 students aged 13–17 from Alicante and Terrassa (2019–2021). Sexism was measured with the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory, which assesses ambivalent, hostile and benevolent sexism. Generalized linear models were carried out and stratified by sex to identify variables associated with sexism. A logistic regression model was used to assess the association between sexism and intimate partner violence. Results: The likelihood of a high score in ambivalent sexism was higher in migrants (girls and boys: p < 0.01) and adolescents with migrant parents (girls: p < 0.01; boys: p < 0.05). Non-heterosexual desire was negatively associated with sexism in girls (benevolent: p < 0.01) and boys (ambivalent and hostile: p < 0.01; benevolent: p < 0.05). Hostile sexism showed association with intimate partner violence perpetration, independently of the rest of the adjustment variables included in the model, for both girls (odds ratio [OR]: 1.07; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.00–1.14) and boys (OR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.03–1.20). Conclusions: Sexism is present amongst teenagers and its relationship with intimate partner violence is confirmed. Sexual desire and migration background should be taken into account for intimate partner violence prevention.Instituto de Salud Carlos III, FEDER y FSE al proyecto «Promoción de activos protectores de la violencia de género en la adolescencia y pre-adolescencia» (2019-2021) (PI18/00590 y PI18/00544)

El efecto del capital social en la violencia en la pareja adolescente desde una perspectiva de interseccionalidad

Antecedentes: La violencia de pareja (VP) es un fenómeno social complejo ampliamente estudiado. Sin embargo, pocos de estos estudios consideran el capital social y la interseccionalidad. Nuestro objetivo fue describir el efecto del capital social en la victimización por VP entre estudiantes de secundaria, considerando tres factores de interseccionalidad (sexo asignado al nacer, orientación sexual y origen migratorio) en dos ciudades de España en 2019-2020. Métodos: Se analizó una muestra transversal de 640 adolescentes con pareja, de 13 a 16 años, de un programa de promoción de relaciones equitativas en Alicante y Terrassa. La variable resultado fue haber sufrido violencia en la pareja (control, miedo, física o sexual) en algún momento de la vida. Se utilizaron variables individuales y relacionales para calcular la razón de prevalencia ajustada (RPa) a partir de modelos multivariable construidos mediante regresión robusta de Poisson, y estratificados por sexo, orientación sexual y origen migratorio. Resultados: La mayor prevalencia de VP (56,25%) se encontró en adolescentes lesbianas, gays o bisexuales (LGB) sin actividad social. La orientación LGB se asoció significativamente con la victimización por VP en los adolescentes con origen en países de bajos ingresos (PBI) (aPR: 1,93) y en las chicas (aPR: 1,53). Por último, la procedencia de un PBI fue un determinante significativo de la VP en los chicos (aPR: 1,76) y en los estudiantes, independientemente de la orientación sexual. Una mayor actividad social mostró un efecto protector para los estudiantes de origen en países de altos ingresos (PAI) y de orientación sexual LGB, independientemente del sexo y la orientación sexual. Conclusiones: La actividad social se asocia de forma desigual con una menor victimización por violencia de la pareja en algún momento de la vida adolescente. La fuerte asociación del origen migratorio y la orientación sexual con la VPI refuerza el enfoque de su prevención en los adolescentes desde una perspectiva de interseccionalidad.Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a complex social phenomenon widely studied. However, few of these studies consider social capital and intersectionality. Our aim was to describe the effect of social capital in IPV victimisation among secondary students, considering three factors of intersectionality (sex assigned at birth, sexual orientation and migration background) in two cities of Spain in 2019-2020. Methods: We analysed a cross-sectional sample of 640 ever-partnered adolescents aged 13–16 years who had taken part in a programme for positive relationship. The main outcome was lifetime IPV (control, fear, physical or sexual violence). Individual and relational variables (bonding social capital) were used to calculate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) from multivariate Robust Poisson regression models stratified by sex assigned at birth, sexual orientation and migration background (factors of intersectionality). Results: The highest IPV prevalence (56.25%) was found in lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) adolescents without social activity. LGB orientation was significantly associated with IPV victimisation in adolescents with low-income country (LIC) backgrounds (aPR: 1.93) and in girls (1.53). Finally, a LIC background was a significant determinant of IPV in boys (aPR: 1.76) and in students independently of sexual orientation. Higher social activity showed a protective effect for students with HIC backgrounds and LGB-sexual orientations. A possible protective effect of social support in HIC backgrounds and regardless of sex and sexual orientation must be considered. Conclusions: Social activity is unequally associated with less lifetime IPV. The strong association of migration background and sexual orientation with IPV reinforces the approach to its prevention in adolescents from an intersectionality perspective.This study was funded by the multi-centre project "Promotion of protective assets against gender violence in adolescence and preadolescence" (Grant reference PI18/00590 and PI18/00544) of the Carlos III Institute of Health, as an intermediary body of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). The project was also supported by the Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología Salud Pública (CIBERESP) through the subprogramme on Prevention of Gender Violence of the Programme on Social Determinants of Health (no grant award number specified)

Dating violence and associated factors among male and female adolescents in Spain

Background: Dating Violence (DV) is a public health problem that is on the rise. In this paper, we aim to analyse different factors associated with DV victimization among female and male adolescents in Spain, considering socioeconomic circumstances, sexual orientation and the presence of different attitudes and experiences related to violence. Methods: Cross-sectional data from a convenience sample of 640 ever-partnered adolescents aged 13 to 17 at schools in the cities of Alicante (n = 359, 50.1% girls) and Terrassa (n = 281, 51.9%) in the context of an educational intervention to promote healthy relationships. We calculated the prevalence of different forms of DV (physical, sexual and control and fear) and carried out multivariate regression models by sex. Results: 5.5% of girls and 8.7% of boys declared having suffered lifetime physical and/or sexual violence, while 22% of girls and 20.5% of boys reported control and/or fear victimization. The likelihood of DV was higher among migrants and those with foreign-born parents (aPR girls = 2.1 CI95%: 1.1-3.9; aPR boys = 1.9: CI95%: 1.0-3.6); prior experiences of abuse (aPR girls = 1.6; CI95%: 1.0-2.6; aPR boys = 1.7; CI95%: 1.1-2.6); and those who showed higher levels of machismo (aPR girls = 1.0; CI95%: 1.0-1.1; aPR boys = 1.0; CI95%: 1.0-1.1). In girls, DV increased among those who reported lesbian/bisexual orientation and poor relationship with teachers. Conclusions: DV is socially patterned and increases among LGB adolescents (especially in the case of girls), migrants, and those with foreign-born parents, and adolescents who reported prior experiences of violence in childhood. Future DV prevention programs should consider social inequalities in the likelihood of DV and by reinforcing adolescents' abilities to recognize social support sources and reject machismo and violence.The project was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness and the Carlos III Institute (Ref. PI18/00590 and PI18/00544) in 2019 and 2021. This study has also been conducted within the grant received from Instituto de Salud Carlos III & FEDER of which VP is recipient of Predoctora Contract for Training in Health Research (PFIS) grant from European Social Found (FSE) (FI19/00201).S

Dating Violence and Associated Factors Among Male and Female Adolescents in Spain

Background: Dating Violence (DV) is a public health problem that is on the rise. In this paper, we aim to analyse different factors associated with DV victimization among female and male adolescents in Spain, considering socioeconomic circumstances, sexual orientation and the presence of different attitudes and experiences related to violence. Methods: Cross-sectional data from a convenience sample of 640 ever-partnered adolescents aged 13 to 17 at schools in the cities of Alicante (n=359, 50.1% girls) and Terrassa (n=281, 51.9%) in the context of an educational intervention to promote healthy relationships. We calculated the prevalence of different forms of DV (physical, sexual and control and fear) and carried out multivariate regression models by sex. Results: 5.5% of girls and 8.7% of boys declared having suffered lifetime physical and/or sexual violence, while 22% of girls and 20.5% of boys reported control and/or fear victimization. The likelihood of DV was higher among migrants and those with foreign-born parents (aPR girls=2.1 CI95%: 1.1-3.9; aPR boys= 1.9: CI95%: 1.0-3.6); prior experiences of abuse (aPR girls= 1.6; CI95%: 1.0-2.6; aPR boys= 1.7; CI95%: 1.1-2.6); and those who showed higher levels of machismo (aPR girls= 1.0; CI95%: 1.0-1.1; aPR boys= 1.0; CI95%: 1.0-1.1). In girls, DV increased among those who reported lesbian/bisexual orientation and poor relationship with teachers. Conclusions: DV is socially patterned and increases among LGB adolescents, migrants, and those with foreign-born parents. Future DV prevention programs should reinforce adolescents’ abilities to recognize social support sources and reject machismo and violence.This study was funded by the multi-centre project "Promotion of Protective Assets Against Gender Violence in Adolescence and Preadolescence" (Ref. PI18/00590 and PI18/00544) of the Carlos III Institute of Health, as an intermediary body of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF)

A large outbreak of COVID-19 linked to an end of term trip to Menorca (Spain) by secondary school students in summer 2021

Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; 2019-nCov; Joves; BrotCoronavirus SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; 2019-nCov; Jóvenes; BroteCoronavirus SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; 2019-nCov; Youths; OutbreakBackground: An outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) occurred in young people from Catalonia (Spain) who travelled to Menorca (Spain) in summer 2021. This outbreak appeared when governments relaxed Covid-19 preventive measures: the mask usage and the opening of nightlife. It was related to a super-disseminating mass event: Sant Joan festivities in Ciutadella. The aim of this article is to describe an outbreak of COVID-19 in young people aged 17–19 years from Catalonia travelling to Menorca. Methods: This is an observational study of a COVID-19 outbreak. The study population comprised Catalonian youth aged 17–19 years who travelled to Menorca from 15 June to 10 July. Epidemiological descriptive indicators were obtained. Descriptive and geographical statistics were carried out. Bivariate Moran’s I test was used to identify spatial autocorrelation between the place of residence and deprivation. The outbreak control method was based on identifying and stopping chains of transmission by implementing the test-trace-isolate-quarantine (TTIQ) strategy. Results: We identified 515 confirmed cases infected in Menorca, 296 (57.5%) in girls and 219 (42.5%) in boys, with a total of 2,280 close contacts. Of them, 245 (10.7%) were confirmed as cases. The cases were diagnosed between 15 June and 10 July. None of the persons with confirmed infection died or required hospitalisation. The attack rate was 27.2%. There was an inverse relationship between deprivation and number of confirmed cases (p<0.005), there were clusters of confirmed cases in the most socioeconomic favoured areas. Discussion: The outbreak is related with young people from socioeconomic favoured areas who travelled to Menorca in summer 2021. Failure to comply with preventive measures in binge-drinking events and during holidays may have favoured SARS-CoV-2 transmission. The interauthority coordination and establishment of a clear line of leadership allowed continuous communication between institutions, which were key to managing this complex COVID-19 outbreak

An in-depth analysis of the sexuality needs of barcelona's youth: a holistic view using mixed method

Abstract: A positive experience of sexuality during youth is key to good sexual health later in life. Addressing young people's sexual health needs and sexual and reproductive rights is thus essential. This study aimed to identify unmet sexual health needs among youth in the city of Barcelona (Spain) through mixed methods research. We analysed the narratives of young people (n = 50) aged 14-24 years with different genders, origins, sexualities and socioeconomic backgrounds, collected from January to April 2019. A descriptive statistical analysis was also conducted on the records of visits to sexual health services and reasons for consultation. We found that 21% (n = 32,161) of young people aged 14-24 years had used sexual healthcare services in Barcelona between 2015 and 2017, while the reasons for consultation differed across sex, gender and socioeconomic background. Young people declared that they needed more information to enjoy their sexuality, to know where to go in case of an unexpected situation and to learn how to combat gender-based violence. They stated that the sexuality education they had received was sparse and focused on risks. We found that formal sex education is scarce, with informal sex education thus acquiring a major role. Current services can be improved by expanding coverage, training professionals and reducing acceptability and accessibility barriers. Sexism is ubiquitous in young people's sexual, dating and personal relationships. We recommend planning sexual health care services and formal sexual education, in which a strong gender strategy is embedded, as part of the same strategy

Healthy and equitable interpersonal relationships, health inequalities and socio‐educational interventions: a conceptual framework for action

This work was supported by the Carlos III Health Institute as a proxy from European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and European Social Fund (ESF) in the multicenter project “Promoción de activos protectores de la violencia de género en la adolescencia y pre-adolescencia” (2019-2021) (PI18/00590 and PI18/00544). The project is supported by the Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP) through the subprogramme on Prevention of Gender Violence of the program on Social Determinants of Health, and by the Health Promotion Section of the Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona. This work is part of Lluís Forcadell-Díez's doctoral thesis, which is being carried out in the Department of Experimental and Health Sciences at Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain. This work has been made possible due to the critical participation of Vanessa Puig-Barrachina, María Salvador-Piedrafita and Mar Bosch-Arís during the discussion and design sessions. The authors are grateful to Paula Arroyo and Helena Llonch during their stay in the research group. Finally, we would like to acknowledge Brenda Biaani León-Gómez, Verónica Espinel-Flores and Sara Trujillo-Alemán for the work that preceded this manuscript. Authors thanks to Gail Craigie for the critical reading of the present manuscript

Germina: herramienta para la detección automática de agrupaciones de casos de COVID-19

Resumen: La pandemia de COVID-19 evidenció que la vigilancia epidemiológica no disponía de recursos para responder a los aumentos de casos ni a los brotes. La alta transmisibilidad comunitaria entre la población escolar en la ciudad de Barcelona al inicio de la sexta ola tensionó la unidad de vigilancia de COVID-19 de la ciudad. Mediante metodología SCRUM se desarrolló e implementó Germina, una herramienta informática capaz de capturar, armonizar, integrar, almacenar, analizar y visualizar diariamente datos de múltiples fuentes de información. Germina permite identificar agrupaciones de tres o más casos escolares y calcular indicadores epidemiológicos. La implementación de Germina facilitó la respuesta epidemiológica a la sexta ola de COVID-19 en el ámbito escolar en Barcelona. Esta herramienta es aplicable a otros ámbitos de exposición y a otras enfermedades transmisibles. El uso de herramientas informáticas automatizadas, como Germina, mejora los sistemas de vigilancia epidemiológica y apoya la toma de decisiones basada en la evidencia. Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic showed that epidemiological surveillance was under-resourced to respond to increases in cases and outbreaks. The high community transmissibility among the school population in the city of Barcelona at the beginning of the sixth wave strained the local COVID-19 surveillance unit. Using SCRUM methodology, Germina was developed and implemented as a software tool capable of capturing, harmonizing, integrating, storing, analysing and visualizing data from multiple information sources on a daily basis. Germina identifies clusters of three or more school cases and calculates epidemiological indicators. The implementation of Germina facilitated the epidemiological response to the sixth wave of COVID-19 in the school setting in the city of Barcelona. This tool is transferable to other exposure settings and communicable diseases. The use of automated informatics tools such, as Germina, improves epidemiological surveillance systems and supports evidence-based decision making

Teen sexual harassment, sexual orientation, and health in an urban setting

In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed data from the Survey of Risk Factors in a Secondary School Students (FRESC) representative survey among secondary school students aged 13 to 19 in the city of Barcelona. At all school grades, sexual harassment was more commonly reported by girls than by boys (17% of girls vs 4.2% of boys). The factors associated with sexual harassment were higher school grade, having a mental health disorder, cannabis abuse, and discrimination because of sexual orientation in girls and discrimination because of sexual orientation in boys. These findings highlight the potentially strong impact of sexual harassment on adolescents’ lives and underscore the importance of preventing this form of violence.This publication was supported by Carlos III Health Institute as intermediate from FEDER and FSE in the multicentric project “Promoción de activos protectores de la violencia de género en la adolescencia y pre-adolescencia” (2019–2021) (PI18/00590 and PI18/00544)

Risk Factors For Cyberbullying Among Secondary Students in Urban Settings in Spain: A Cross-Sectional Study

Previous forms of bullying in the school context have been altered by the widespread use of the internet and social networks, raising the need to understand the dynamics of cyberbullying. The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency and factors associated with cyberbullying in secondary schools in two Spanish cities (2019–2020). A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1421 students in the second and third years of compulsory secondary education in 9 schools in Terrassa and Alicante. The students filled out a computer-based questionnaire during the 2019–2020 academic year. The explanatory variables were sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex, origin, sexual orientation) and the relationship with peers and family, including childhood violence victimization. Prevalence and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) were calculated through Poisson regression models stratified by sex. Cyberbullying had been experienced by 9.2% of girls and 10.8% of boys. The phenomenon was more frequent in non-heterosexual girls (aPR = 2.94; 95% CI 1.83–4.71) who had had sex with another person (aPR = 2.66 95% CI 1.54–4.60) than in non-heterosexual boys (aPR = 1.79 95% CI 1.18–2.71), boys from low-income countries (aPR = 1.73 95% CI 1.10–2.71), and those who had experienced physical abuse in childhood (aPR = 2.36 95% CI 1.54–3.64). There is a marked prevalence of cyberbullying in secondary school students. It is essential to approach interactions between social and demographic individual factors in the prevention of cyberbullying in secondary education as part of school-based programs to encourage healthy equitable relationships throughout childhood and adolescence.This study was funded by the multi-center project “Promotion of protective assets against gender violence in adolescence and pre-adolescence” (Grant reference PI18/00590 and PI18/00544) of the Carlos III Institute of Health, as an intermediary body of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). The project was also supported by the Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología Salud Pública (CIBERESP) through the subprogram on Prevention of Gender Violence of the Programme on Social Determinants of Health (no grant award number specified)