TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence of different forms of child maltreatment among Taiwanese adolescents
T2 - A population-based study
AU - Feng, Jui Ying
AU - Chang, Yi Ting
AU - Chang, Hsin Yi
AU - Fetzer, Susan
AU - Wang, Jung Der
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan ( NSC101-2314-B-006-062-MY3 ) and partially by the Ministry of Education, Taiwan, The Aim for the Top University Project to National Cheng Kung University .
Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 The Authors.
PY - 2015/4/1
Y1 - 2015/4/1
N2 - Reported cases of child maltreatment are increasing in Taiwan. Yet, comprehensive epidemiological characteristics of adolescents' exposure over the wide spectrum of violence are still lacking. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence and magnitude of child maltreatment among Taiwanese adolescents. A population-based study was conducted with 5,276 adolescents aged 12-18 from 35 schools in 17 cities and townships to determine the prevalence of five forms of child maltreatment in Taiwan. A total of 5,236 adolescents completed anonymous, self-report, structured questionnaires. Most adolescents (91%, n= 4,788) experienced at least one form of maltreatment with 83% (n= 4,347) exposed during the previous year. Violence exposure was the most common type of child maltreatment experienced, followed by psychological abuse, physical abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse. Adolescents reported an average of 7.4 (SD. = 5.87) victimizations over their lifetime and 4.8 (SD. = 4.82) victimizations during the past year. Females reported a higher rate of neglect, while males reported a higher rate of sexual abuse. Most of the sexual abuse perpetrators were known by their victims. Adolescents' victimization and polyvictimization from child maltreatment in Taiwan deserves a review and modification of national control and prevention policies.
AB - Reported cases of child maltreatment are increasing in Taiwan. Yet, comprehensive epidemiological characteristics of adolescents' exposure over the wide spectrum of violence are still lacking. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence and magnitude of child maltreatment among Taiwanese adolescents. A population-based study was conducted with 5,276 adolescents aged 12-18 from 35 schools in 17 cities and townships to determine the prevalence of five forms of child maltreatment in Taiwan. A total of 5,236 adolescents completed anonymous, self-report, structured questionnaires. Most adolescents (91%, n= 4,788) experienced at least one form of maltreatment with 83% (n= 4,347) exposed during the previous year. Violence exposure was the most common type of child maltreatment experienced, followed by psychological abuse, physical abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse. Adolescents reported an average of 7.4 (SD. = 5.87) victimizations over their lifetime and 4.8 (SD. = 4.82) victimizations during the past year. Females reported a higher rate of neglect, while males reported a higher rate of sexual abuse. Most of the sexual abuse perpetrators were known by their victims. Adolescents' victimization and polyvictimization from child maltreatment in Taiwan deserves a review and modification of national control and prevention policies.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.11.010
DO - 10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.11.010
M3 - Article
C2 - 25477233
AN - SCOPUS:84925946938
VL - 42
SP - 10
EP - 19
JO - Child Abuse and Neglect
JF - Child Abuse and Neglect
SN - 0145-2134
ER -