Trends in adolescent violence victimization pre-, intra-, and post-COVID–19 pandemic in South Korea, 2012–2023: a nationwide cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background

Adolescent violence victimization is a major public health concern, but research has been limited by short durations and small samples, restricting long-term understanding. This study examined its trends and vulnerabilities in South Korea, focusing on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Data were collected from 740,687 nationally representative samples (7–12th grade adolescents) through the Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey from 2012 to 2023. Violence victimization was defined as treatment at a hospital in the past 12 months due to physical, mental, or property victimization. To assess the impact of the COVID–19 pandemic, the data were categorized into pre-(2012–2019), intra-(2020–2022), and post-(2023) pandemic periods, and analyzed using weighted regression models.

Results

A total of 740,687 participants (379,021 boys [51.17 %]) were included in this analysis from 2012 to 2023. The overall prevalence of adolescent violence victimization significantly declined from 2.91 % [95 % CI, 2.77–3.04] to 1.94 % [1.86–2.02] in pre-pandemic, then decreased to 1.13 % [1.03–1.24] during the early intra-pandemic, before rising to 2.29 % [2.12–2.46] in the post-pandemic. Vulnerable subgroups included students in 7–9th grades, those with depressive symptoms, attendees of all-boys schools, residents of facilities, current substance users, all exhibiting greater susceptibility to violence victimization.

Conclusion

This study identified a U-shaped trend in adolescent violence victimization in South Korea throughout the pandemic. Relative risk was associated with school and living environments, psychosocial factors, and substance use. Findings highlight the need for a systemic approach to interventions, addressing both individual vulnerabilities and structural factors to strengthen prevention.