Search Results (695)

Healthcare abuse is a critical human rights and public health issue, particularly impacting medical interns and trainees who are vulnerable to mistreatment during their formative professional years. This cross-sectional study, conducted from February to June 2024, evaluated the prevalence and psychological impact of harassment and discrimination among 463 healthcare interns in Saudi Arabia from various specialties, including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and dentistry. Using a self-administered online questionnaire, we found that mistreatment was widely reported, with female interns experiencing significantly higher rates of sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination. Common perpetrators included residents, lecturers, professors, nurses, and patients, with incidents most frequently occurring in surgical and internal medicine departments. Despite high prevalence, only 9% of interns reported the abuse due to mistrust in reporting systems or failure to recognize the behavior as abuse. These experiences were associated with significant psychological distress, including frustration, reduced motivation to learn, and higher DASS scores, particularly among female interns. The study underscores the need for institutional reforms, including policy development, cultural change, and effective reporting systems to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment for future healthcare professionals. Addressing abuse in medical training is essential for individual well-being and the sustainability and integrity of healthcare systems. Full article

This study aims to validate the Online Sexual Harassment Perpetration among Peers (OSHP-P) instrument for assessing online sexual harassment among adolescents in two different countries, Spain and Italy, considering both new forms of online sexual harassment and gender differences. The instrument was validated by means of a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) with a sample of 1041 Spanish (M_age = 15.0, SD = 0.88) and 1385 Italian (M_age = 14.8, SD = 0.87) adolescents, demonstrating factorial invariance across both country and gender. The best-fitting model was two-dimensional, with ambiguous and direct Sexual Cyber Perpetration (SCP) and Non-Consensual Sharing Perpetration (NCSP) factors. Co-involvement (i.e., involvement in both types of aggression) rates were 10.3% in Spain and 7.8% in Italy. No significant gender differences were found for involvement in either the overall scale (46.4% for girls, 44.1% for boys) or the NCSP subscale (3.0% girls vs. 2.2% boys), although significantly higher co-involvement was found among boys (7.7% girls vs. 10.1% boys). This study contributes to the existing body of research on online sexual harassment among peers in adolescence by presenting a new assessment tool that has been shown to be invariant between Spanish and Italian adolescents, as well as between boys and girls. Full article

Social desirability is a widely studied phenomenon due to its impact on the validity of self-reported data. It refers to the tendency of individuals to respond to questions in a manner that they believe is socially acceptable or favorable rather than providing truthful or accurate answers. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Brief Social Desirability Scale (BSSD-4) in Ecuadorian youth, analyzing its reliability, factorial and convergent validity, and measurement invariance by sex, age group, and experiences of dating violence. An instrumental study was conducted with a non-probabilistic convenience sample of 836 participants (aged 14–26). Reliability was adequate (Ω = 0.75, α = 0.81, CR = 0.759). Confirmatory factor analysis showed good fit indices (CFI = 0.98, TLI = 0.97, RMSEA = 0.056, SRMR = 0.037). Convergent validity was acceptable (AVE = 0.50, VIF < 2.01). A network analysis confirmed the unidimensionality of the scale and structural differences between groups. Measurement invariance by sex and age was verified, but differences in the network structure were found based on victimization and perpetration of violence. The BSSD-4 is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing social desirability in Ecuadorian youth, useful for population studies and intergroup comparisons. Further research is recommended to explore its invariance in populations with a history of violence, as differences in scalar invariance were observed. Full article

Background/Objectives: Deficits in emotion recognition abilities have been described as risk factors for intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration. However, much of this research is based on self-reports or instruments that present limited psychometric properties. While current scientific literature supports the use of eye tracking to assess cognitive and emotional processes, including emotional decoding abilities, there is a gap in the scientific literature when it comes to measuring these processes in IPV perpetrators using eye tracking in an emotional decoding task. Hence, the aim of this study was to examine the association between fixation times via eye tracking and emotional decoding abilities in IPV perpetrators, controlling for potential confounding variables. Methods: To this end, an emotion recognition task was created using an eye tracker in a group of 52 IPV perpetrators. This task consisted of 20 images with people expressing different emotions. For each picture, the facial region was selected as an area of interest (AOI). The fixation times were added to obtain a total gaze fixation time score. Additionally, an ad hoc emotional decoding multiple-choice test about each picture was developed. These instruments were complemented with other self-reports previously designed to measure emotion decoding abilities. Results: The results showed that the longer the total fixation times on the AOI, the better the emotional decoding abilities in IPV perpetrators. Specifically, fixation times explained 20% of the variance in emotional decoding test scores. Additionally, our ad hoc emotional decoding test was significantly correlated with previously designed emotion recognition tools and showed similar reliability to the eyes test. Conclusions: Overall, this pilot study highlights the importance of including eye movement signals to explore attentional processes involved in emotion recognition abilities in IPV perpetrators. This would allow us to adequately specify the therapeutic needs of IPV perpetrators to improve current interventions. Full article

Background: Peer bullying is a global problem affecting youth around the world that can impact youth development including school engagement. The relationship between child maltreatment and school bullying victimization and perpetration is well known. However, few studies have explored the extent of bullying among vulnerable groups of adolescents. Youth in orphanage care may be at higher risk of both maltreatment and bullying because of the circumstances and stigma that brought them into care. This study aimed to examine peer bullying victimization among adolescents residing in orphanage care compared to a national sample of adolescents in South Korea, and to investigate the mediating effect of bullying victimization on the relationship between child maltreatment and school engagement. This comparison allowed for an examination of how caregiving contexts may differentially influence the impact of maltreatment and bullying on school engagement. Methods: Data from the national Korean Welfare Panel Study (KoWePS) 7th wave (n = 521) and a study of 153 South Korean adolescents in orphanage care were merged into one dataset (n = 675). Analysis included descriptive and bivariate statistics, two simple mediation analyses, and multiple regression analysis to verify mediation effects using PROCESS Macro. Results: Adolescents in orphanage care reported significantly higher bullying victimization and lower school engagement than the national sample. Negative correlations were identified between child maltreatment, bullying victimization, and school engagement among adolescents in orphanage care. Importantly, bullying victimization significantly mediated the relationship between child maltreatment and school engagement within this group. Conclusions: These findings highlight the complex relationship between maltreatment and bullying victimization, emphasizing the need for comprehensive interventions addressing both maltreatment and peer bullying to enhance school engagement among vulnerable youth. Full article

Rape is typically committed as a one-on-one crime. However, a relatively high number of rapes (2–27%) involve a single victim and multiple perpetrators. These cases are often referred to as “gang” rapes but are also termed Multiple Perpetrator Rape (MPR). Despite these data, there is a scarce amount of legal decision-making research on this issue. This study investigated legal decision making in an acquaintance rape case involving multiple perpetrators. This study was a 2(Defendant Number: one vs. three) × 2(Victim Intoxication: intoxicated vs. sober) × 2(Participant Gender: women vs. men) between-participants design. Online community members (N = 171) were randomly assigned to read a trial summary involving one of four conditions. The primary results showed that, when the case involved multiple (vs. one) perpetrators, mock jurors were more likely to vote guilty, perceived the victim to be more helpless, and reported less sympathy for the defendant and lower defendant credibility. Cognitive networks showed that jurors in the MPR condition emphasized the number of perpetrators as a primary reason for voting guilty. Finally, there was evidence of a serial indirect effect involving victim helplessness and defendant blame that explained the relation between the number of defendants and verdicts, as well as parallel indirect effects of defendant credibility, sympathy, and anger, and victim helplessness on verdicts. Implications for prosecuting MPR cases are discussed. Full article

Background The COVID-19 epidemic had a deleterious impact on mental health and substance abuse and led to an increase in several forms of violence, including self-harm and interpersonal violence among youth from low- and middle-income countries. Nevertheless, the relationship between the variables and their directionality has not been recognized. This study describes the relationship directionality between these variables among 18- to 20-year-old Mexican youths during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods The longitudinal cohort study comprises an evolving group of young Mexican adults: 1390 participants aged 18 in 2021, 654 aged 19 in 2022, and 442 aged 20 in 2023. Proportions by sex—50% were matched in every cohort, and the evolution–age sample accomplishment accounted for 47% in 2022 and 32% in 2023. Results According to a structural equation model, which fit the data from 195 iterations with 246 parameters (X²[2722] = 8327.33, p < 0.001), yielding a CFI of 0.946, a TLI of 0.943, and an RMSEA of 0.029 [0.028–0.029]), perpetrating intimate violence, preceded by suffering intimate violence, combined with suffering anxiety symptoms, was associated with self-harm–suicide thoughts and behaviors (ShSTB), marked distress, dysfunction, and somatization symptoms. The relationship was stronger in women and 20-year-old Mexicans. In men, this pathway was exclusively associated with ShSTB. Suffering from intimate violence has been associated with depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms, as well as harmful alcohol use. Conclusions During an epidemic, prevention programs should be designed to warn about self-harm–suicide thoughts and behaviors, not only to ensure the safety of the victims of intimate personal-violence but also to prevent the suicidal behavior of perpetrators. Full article

In the news media, there are regular reports of family caregivers killing the people for whom they care, but scholarly research on this phenomenon is fragmented, and there has been little effort to predict or prevent future deaths. The aim of this study was to develop a typology of caregiver-perpetrated homicides that could provide a framework for more rigorous research and targeted responses in policy and practice. Ideal Type Analysis was applied to sixty-four homicides and homicide–suicides perpetrated by family caregivers in England and Wales between January 2015 and December 2019. The cases clustered into seven clear types: Ending Suffering; Genuine Burden of Care; Pre-existing Mental Illness; Neglect; Exploitation; Caregiver as Victim of Domestic Violence, Abuse or Coercive Control; and Caregiver as Perpetrator of Domestic Violence, Abuse, or Coercive Control. Each type was characterised by a distinct motive, context, or course of events leading to the homicide. This is the first typology of homicides and homicide–suicides perpetrated by caregivers. The Caregiver-Perpetrated Homicide Typology challenges previous claims that caregiver-perpetrated homicides are isolated events and provides a framework for the development of evidence-based prediction and prevention initiatives. Full article

Non-consensual intimate media sharing (NCIMS)—defined as the non-consensual sharing of sexually explicit images or videos—has notably increased in recent years, despite legislative actions to tackle this. This study aimed to investigate whether the Dark Triad traits of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy—as well as sex and social desirability—predicted NCIMS proclivity, enjoyment, and approval in UK university students. A total of 653 participants were recruited through Prolific, the University of Birmingham survey circle, and social media. All participants completed various measures to assess self-reported levels of Dark Triad traits, social desirability, and NCIMS proclivity, enjoyment, and approval. The results showed that the models for each multiple linear regression (NCIMS proclivity, enjoyment, and approval) were statistically significant, though only certain variables were independent predictors for each regression. For proclivity, only psychopathy independently added to the prediction. For enjoyment, significant predictors were sex, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. For approval, only Machiavellianism added statistically to the prediction. This research adds to the growing literature base around NCIMS, specifically within university students in the UK, and provides strong evidence for the development and implementation of interventions designed to address the likelihood of individuals perpetrating NCIMS. Full article

(1) Background: Sexual harassment in the workplace is a problem that particularly affects women and is not an exception in the world of work. Factors such as power asymmetry, the predominantly masculinized culture in many organizations, and the potential impunity of perpetrators increase the associated risks. This study aims to analyze the psychometric properties of the Sexual Experiences Questionnaire-Workplace (SEQ-W) to measure sexual harassment at work and assess its validity in Spanish. (2) Methods: A total of 120 active female workers (67.5% European and 32.5% South American) participated, completing validated instruments to measure sexual harassment, workplace bullying, self-perceived health, and job satisfaction. The questionnaires were administered online, ensuring anonymity and explaining the study’s objectives. (3) Results: An exploratory factor analysis revealed a bifactorial structure with the dimensions “Sexual Harassment by Coercion” and “Harassment by Unwanted Sexual Attention.” Both dimensions demonstrated adequate internal consistency, concurrent validity with workplace bullying and well-being scales, and discriminant validity with job satisfaction. Additionally, a pronounced floor effect was observed, indicating a low prevalence of sexual harassment in the sample. (4) Conclusions: the SEQ-W scale is a useful tool for assessing sexual harassment among active Spanish-speaking female workers, considering its validated bidimensional structure in Spanish. Full article

Interpersonal workplace mistreatment (IWM) is a pervasive issue with varied co-worker reactions. Despite significant growth in IWM research, understanding co-workers’ responses remains challenging due to scattered research streams and a focus on isolated components. Therefore, this integrative review synthesizes the existing literature to examine when and how co-workers respond to IWM. We identify key factors influencing both the intention and actual behavior of co-workers when initially witnessing IWM. These factors are categorized into eight overarching individual (perceived responsibility, emotion and affect, personal characteristics) and contextual themes (social relationships, risks and costs considerations, workplace characteristics, target characteristics, characteristics of the perpetrator and the act of IWM). By integrating these factors into a comprehensive framework drawing on dual processing accounts, we highlight the complex interplay between cognitive and affective processes in shaping co-worker responses. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for designing effective intervention programs that encourage co-workers to counteract IWM. Our findings offer valuable theoretical insights and practical implications for fostering a more supportive and just workplace environment. Full article

The present study investigated how the quality of teacher–student relationships and students’ social status among peers relate to bullying experiences in children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and those with typical development (TD). A sample of 135 students (27 with ADHD and 108 with TD; M = 11.37, SD = 1.25) participated. Using a structural equation model, we examined whether ADHD predicted students’ relationships with teachers and peers and whether these variables, in turn, predicted bullying victimization and perpetration. The model showed a good fit. Children with ADHD reported more conflictual relationships with teachers, lower peer preference, and higher social impact compared to their typically developing peers. These relationship characteristics were differentially associated with bullying outcomes, with teacher–student conflict and peer visibility emerging as social risk factors. Although preliminary, the results suggest that the relational context—particularly teacher attention and peer dynamics—may play a critical role in shaping the social experiences of students with ADHD and could have unintended consequences within peer groups. Full article

This article presents an analysis of the mediation and moderation of the suffering and perpetration of hate speech among adolescents in Almería (Spain), taking into account gender differences. For this purpose, data from a questionnaire completed by secondary school students (N = 535) in four schools in Almería (Spain) was analyzed. For the analysis, an index of emotional self-control was constructed and introduced as a mediator between receiving hate speech and perpetrating it. In addition, the moderating role of revenge and fun motives in this relationship was analyzed, finding that the revenge motive is not significant and the fun motive is significant (for boys). The results suggest that receiving hate speech does not mean that one commits hate speech. It occurs when there is a low level of self-control and increases (for boys) when hate speech is perceived as fun. Therefore, we can say that for both boys and girls, it is necessary to improve emotional self-control. In addition, toxic masculinity is related to low emotional self-control, but is loaded with the view that hate speech is funny. Full article

Background: Intimate partner femicide (IPF) is the most common form of femicide and a severe expression of gender-based violence, highlighting persistent gender inequality worldwide. Addressing this major public health concern requires a comprehensive synthesis of existing evidence to inform prevention strategies. This review aims to identify risk factors for IPF and explore the demographic, behavioral, and psychosocial characteristics of victims and perpetrators. Methods: A narrative review was conducted using a systematic literature search in Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed, following PRISMA guidelines. Studies were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Out of 1200 identified records, 51 met the criteria and were included. Data extraction and analysis were conducted independently by two reviewers. Findings are presented narratively. Results: The review identified multiple risk factors for IPF. Victims were more likely to be married, with a history of psychological and physical abuse as well as substance use. Perpetrators were typically older, with higher rates of unemployment, psychiatric disorders, and substance use. Common precipitating factors included jealousy, separation, and recurrent conflicts. Weapon use—particularly knives and firearms—and “overkill” were frequent. Perpetrators often exhibited stalking behaviors and a history of intimate partner violence. Compared to other homicide offenders, IPF perpetrators were generally older, more often employed, and less likely to have a criminal background, but more likely to engage in intimate partner violence and hold patriarchal beliefs. Conclusions: IPF is not an unpredictable act. Despite the heterogeneity among perpetrators, identifiable risk indicators can inform effective prevention and intervention efforts. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cyber intimate partner violence (CIPV) in adolescents is influenced by individual and relational factors, including psychopathic traits, antisocial and law-violating behaviors, child-to-parent violence, and dating violence. This study examines predictors of cyber aggression, cyber control perpetration, cyber victimization, and received cyber control using hierarchical regression models (HRMs) and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA). Method: A total of 207 Spanish adolescents (M = 16.18; SD = 1.52) aged 14–18 years completed measures of psychopathy (P-16), antisocial behavior (ECADA), child-to-parent violence (CTS2), and dating violence (CADRI), together with Violence in Adolescent Relationships on Social Media (e-VPA). Results: HRM showed that child-to-parent violence and experienced dating violence were common predictors across cyber aggression, cyber victimization, and received cyber control. Cyber control perpetration was mainly influenced by psychopathy and perpetrated dating violence. fsQCA revealed multiple pathways leading to high levels of CIPV, combining psychopathy, antisocial behaviors, and family and partner violence. However, cyber aggression perpetration could not be analyzed due to insufficient variability. Conclusions: The findings suggest that CIPV might stem from complex interactions between individual traits and offline relational violence. Prevention efforts should address both family dynamics and dating violence to mitigate cyber aggression and victimization in adolescent relationships. Full article