RESUMEN
Background: Sexual violence is a public health issue among adolescents globally but remains understudied in Sub-Saharan Africa.Objective: The present study focused on the association of cumulative exposure to different types of sexual violence with mental and physical health problems and prosocial behaviour.Method: We conducted a survey with a regionally representative sample of both in-school and out-of-school adolescents, aged 13-17 years, living in south-western Nigeria. Self-reported exposure to sexual violence, behavioural problems, physical complaints, and prosocial behaviour were assessed.Results: About three quarters of the participants reported the experience of sexual violence (74.6%). Multiple regression models revealed that the more types of sexual violence an individual reported, the more mental and physical health problems, and the fewer prosocial behaviours they reported when controlling for other forms of violence exposure. Latent class analysis revealed three severity classes of sexual violence. Symptoms of mental and physical health indicators were significantly higher as exposure increased by group whereas prosocial behaviours were non-significantly fewer in the opposite direction.Conclusion: This study revealed a consistent and unique relation between sexual violence exposure and negative health outcomes among adolescents. Further research on sexual violence in Sub-Saharan Africa and its associations is needed.
Sexual violence is associated with health problems and prosocial behaviour among in- and out-of-school youth in Nigeria.Mental and physical health is particularly affected among youth who experience the highest levels of sexual violence. Yet, lower exposure levels are highly prevalent and are related to health issues, too.Prosocial behaviour is negatively related to sexual violence exposure indicating effect on social well-being.
Asunto(s)
Exposición a la Violencia , Delitos Sexuales , Humanos , Adolescente , Altruismo , Violencia , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
Background: Several studies have indicated that positive childhood experiences (PCEs) might have important protective effects on adulthood mental health. However, the instruments to assess PCEs are scarce. Objective: In this study, we assessed the validity and reliability of the Benevolent Childhood Experiences (BCEs) scale, a new instrument of PCEs, in a large sample of Chinese adults. Furthermore, we examined associations of PCEs with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, as well as, prosocial behaviours across different levels of trauma. Method: Participants were 6929 adults (33% male; mean age 38.04 years, SD = 7.81, ranging from 18 to 81.) recruited from Jiangxi and Hunan provinces in China. Self-administrated questionnaires were used to measure PCEs, childhood trauma, lifetime trauma, PTSD, depression, and prosocial behaviours. Multiple linear regression models were conducted to examine the interdependent and interactive effects of PCEs, lifetime trauma, childhood trauma on symptoms of PTSD and depression and prosocial behaviours. Results: In the current sample, the Cronbach's α of the BCEs scale was 0.70. PCEs were not related to lifetime trauma, while modestly associated with childhood trauma, demonstrating excellent discriminant validity. PCEs were negatively correlated with severity of PTSD and depression, while positively correlated with prosocial behaviours, indicating good predictive validity. PCEs, lifetime trauma and childhood trauma were independently associated with severity of PTSD and depression and prosocial behaviours. Moreover, the interaction of PCEs and lifetime trauma negatively predicted severity of PTSD and depression, while the interaction of PCEs and childhood trauma negatively predicted prosocial behaviours. PCEs had a protective effect on PTSD and depression in high level of lifetime trauma, and showed a reduced positive effect on prosocial behaviours in high level of childhood trauma. Conclusions: The Chinese BCEs scale is a reliable and valid instrument. PCEs can buffer adversity and foster positive outcomes in adulthood.
Antecedentes: Varios estudios han indicado que las experiencias positivas en la infancia (PCEs) podrían tener efectos protectores importantes sobre la salud mental en la edad adulta. Sin embargo, los instrumentos para evaluar PCEs son escasos.Objetivo: En este estudio, evaluamos la validez y confiabilidad de la escala de Experiencias Benévolas de la Infancia (BCE en sus siglas en inglés), un nuevo instrumento de PCEs, en una muestra grande de adultos chinos. Además, examinamos asociaciones de PCEs con síntomas de trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT) y depresión, así como comportamientos prosociales en diferentes niveles de trauma.Método: Los participantes fueron 6929 adultos (33% hombres; edad media 38,04 años, DE = 7,81, con un rango de 18 a 81) reclutados en las provincias de Jiangxi y Hunan en China. Se utilizaron cuestionarios autoadministrados para medir PCEs, trauma infantil, trauma a lo largo de la vida, TEPT y depresión, y comportamientos prosociales. Se realizaron modelos de regresión lineal múltiples para examinar los efectos interdependientes e interactivos de los PCEs, el trauma a lo largo de la vida, el trauma infantil sobre los síntomas del TEPT y la depresión y las conductas prosociales.Resultados: En esta muestra, el α de Cronbach de la escala BCE fue de 0,70. Los PCEs no se relacionaron con el trauma a lo largo de la vida, aunque se asociaron modestamente con el trauma infantil, demostrando una excelente validez discriminante. Los PCEs se correlacionaron negativamente con la gravedad del TEPT y depresión, mientras que se correlacionaron positivamente con las conductas prosociales, lo que indica una buena validez predictiva. Los PCEs, el trauma a lo largo de la vida y el trauma infantil se asociaron de forma independiente con la gravedad del TEPT y la depresión y las conductas prosociales. Además, la interacción de los PCEs y el trauma de por vida predijo negativamente la gravedad del TEPT y la depresión, mientras que la interacción de los PCE y el trauma infantil predijo negativamente las conductas prosociales. Los PCEs tuvieron un efecto protector para el TEPT y la depresión en un nivel alto de trauma a lo largo de la vida, y mostraron un efecto positivo reducido sobre las conductas prosociales en un nivel alto de trauma infantil.Conclusiones: La escala de BCE de China es un instrumento válido y confiable. Los PCEs pueden amortiguar la adversidad y fomentar resultados positivos en la edad adulta.