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Childhood Victimization by Adults and Peers and Health-Risk Behaviors in Adulthood

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 May 2019

M. Ángeles Cerezo Open the ORCID record for M. Ángeles Cerezo [Opens in a new window]  and
Elena Pérez-García
M. Ángeles Cerezo*
Affiliation:
Universitat de València (Spain)
Elena Pérez-García
Affiliation:
Universitat de València (Spain)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to M. Ángeles Cerezo. Universitat de València. Facultat de Psicologia. Av. Blasco Ibáñez, 21. 46010 Valencia (Spain). E-mail: angeles.cerezo@uv.es Phone: +34–963864475.
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Abstract

Victimization experienced in childhood has been linked with health-risk behaviors (HRBs) in adulthood. The purpose of this cross-sectional survey was to provide data regarding the HRBs using the ISPCAN Child Abuse Screening Tool Retrospective version (ICAST-R), Spanish version. This aimed to broaden existing knowledge by assessing both being victimized by adults and by peers in a Spanish general population of 348, aged 18–35. Age and timing of the reported victimization were also considered. Victimization: physical, psychological, sexual abuse by adults and/or peers showed a prevalence of 44.54%. Of these, 41.29% reported abuse by both. Children victimized by adults, regardless of type, were significantly associated to be psychologically abused by their peers (p < .001). Moreover, psychological maltreatment by adults was significantly associated with two peer victimizations: Physical and psychological (p < .001 in both). Regarding HRBs, peer victimized groups showed significantly higher levels of severity than non-victimized, with a higher proportion reporting attempted suicide (p < .05) and psychological or psychiatric treatment (p < .05). Participants victimized only by adults reported higher number of HRBs (p < .01), their victimization was associated to more severe abuse of drugs/alcohol (p ≤ .05), and suicide attempts (p < .05). Those victimized by adults and peers received treatment in higher proportion than non-victims (p < .001). Participants reporting victimization since before 5 years to age of 17, compared with non-victimized, showed more substance abuse (p < .05), attempted suicide (p < .01) and receipt of treatment (p < .05). These findings highlight the relevance of ICAST-R in studying HRBs.

Keywords

adult victimizationchildhood maltreatmenthealth-risk behaviorsICAST-Rpeer victimization
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 22 , 2019 , E20
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2019 

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Footnotes

How to cite this article:

Cerezo, M. A., & Pérez-García, E. (2019). Childhood victimization by adults and peers and health-risk behaviors in adulthood. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 22. e20. Doi:10.1017/sjp.2019.24

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