Pathways of Victimization: Examining Pathways From Early Childhood Victimization by Sex.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine paths stemming from early childhood victimization, including maltreatment exposure, community violence exposure, and home violence exposure, exploring how these experiences affected middle childhood behaviors and negative outcomes into adolescence, including delinquency, arrest, dropout, and early sexual intercourse. Variation in paths by sex and type of victimization was also explored. Using data from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN) consortium and multigroup path models, findings suggested differences in paths by sex and victimization type. According to results, composite victimization was broadly associated with a wide range of negative outcomes in adolescence for both boys and girls. By type, maltreatment was more predictive of negative outcomes for girls (including delinquency and early sexual intercourse), while maltreatment and community violence exposure increased the risk of dropout and delinquency for boys. Findings highlight the importance of exploring variations in patterns following early victimization over time and across environments in order to better meet children's needs and prevent long-term negative outcomes.