Contextually Sensitive Polyvictimization Profiles and Physical and Mental Health Outcomes among South African Adolescents from Low-Resource Communities: An Extended Latent Class Analysis

Abstract

Adolescents in South Africa may experience violence victimizations in many forms (abuse, bullying, assault) and across many contexts (home, school, community). Polyvictimization is a valuable framework to examine the diversity of violence in adolescents’ lives, particularly when employed alongside person-centered methods such as latent class analysis. This study builds on previous work examining contextually sensitive patterns of polyvictimization among South African adolescents and uses longitudinal Young Carers data (n = 3401) from highly-deprived, low-resource settings to investigate the associations between latent class polyvictimization profiles and physical and mental health outcomes using the Bolck–Croon–Hagenaars (BCH) method. Key results found that adolescents who experienced high polyvictimization alongside contextual factors (poverty, disability, etc.) had greater odds of suicidality and higher scores for depression and anxiety measures than their peers who experienced moderate or low polyvictimization. These outcomes were often worse within the high polyvictimization classes for those participants experiencing burdens of HIV/AIDS and disability. Results were mixed for the physical health outcomes (chronic health condition; recent poor health) and when distinguishing between the moderate and low polyvictimization classes, as some classes characterized by decreased polyvictimization had worse health outcomes. These findings highlight the need to consider polyvictimization as a relevant health risk and contextual factor when addressing the health and well-being needs of South African adolescents. Health programming and policy efforts should seek to screen for and address the causes of and distress from polyvictimization when targeting adolescents and provide a cohesive response to the adolescent violence and health burdens in low-resource communities.