Naslov
The Role of Mental Health and Delinquent Behaviors in the Cycle of Sexual Violence Among Croatian Adolescents: A Longitudinal Exploration with Replication

Autori
Baćak, Valerio ; Štulhofer, Aleksandar ; Bright, Katherice

Izvornik
Archives of sexual behavior (0004-0002) Online (2023); 1-13

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
Sexual victimization ; Cycle of violence ; Mental health ; Delinquency ; Family environment ; Croatia

Sažetak
The “cycle of violence” perspective links the experience of being a victim of violence with later aggressive or violent behavior. While the association between victimization and aggression is relatively established, the mechanisms involved in the cycle of violence are less understood. The current study considered the role of mental health and delinquency on the pathway between sexual victimization and sexual aggression in two independent longitudinal samples of Croatian adolescents (Mage at baseline = 16 years). Using data from the first panel (six data waves, 2015–2018 ; n = 1289), structural equation modeling analysis pointed to a psychosocial mechanism, a combination of symptoms of depression/anxiety and delinquency, that mediated the link between the experience of sexual victimization and self-reported sexual aggression. We also observed a significant role of family environment in this psychosocial mechanism. The pattern of findings was partially replicated in the second panel with five waves of data (2015–2017 ; n = 750). The study’s results can help inform conversations around designing policies to prevent and address peer sexual violence among Croatian adolescents.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Sociologija

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