Risk Factors for Maltreatment of Adolescents in Asia: A Systematic Review of the Evidence.

Abstract

Adolescent maltreatment is a public health issue with far-reaching consequences. This systematic review aimed to identify its risk factors within Asian settings. Seven databases (PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, ProQuest, CNKI, and Wanfang) were systematically searched for publications published before May 3, 2024. Twenty-four studies from nine Asian countries were included. Results revealed multilevel risk factors across ecological systems. At the individual level, younger age predicted physical abuse, while male gender was associated with higher neglect and overall maltreatment rates. Poor health condition, behavioral problems, and high-risk sexual behaviors/attitudes increased vulnerability. Parental substance use and addictive behaviors consistently predicted maltreatment, while family-level factors, including economic hardship and non-traditional structures, showed robust associations. Within microsystems, poor family relationships and negative parenting patterns were found to be significant. Mesosystem risks centered on academic underperformance, while exosystem influences consistently reflected patterns in neighborhood disorganization and migration status. Evidence at the macrosystem level remains scarce, while findings concerning chronosystem factors-including COVID-19 pandemic impacts and intergenerational transmission of abuse-remain preliminary. These findings underscore the need for both rigorous longitudinal research to establish causal relationships and macro-level investigations to examine societal, cultural, and policy influences in Asian contexts, thereby building comprehensive evidence to inform culturally appropriate and multilevel prevention strategies.