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BMC Geriatrics Dec 2023Many studies have investigated the relationship between social support and the prevention of elder abuse; however, their results are somehow inconsistent in terms of the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS
Many studies have investigated the relationship between social support and the prevention of elder abuse; however, their results are somehow inconsistent in terms of the association. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the published studies on the relationship between social support and the prevention of elder maltreatment.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
An electronic search was conducted until January 2023, using such databases as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The present research included cross-sectional, longitudinal, and case-control studies. Study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were conducted by two researchers independently. The Newcastle-Ottawa checklist was utilized to evaluate the quality of studies. The random effects model was employed to perform a meta-analysis.
RESULTS
In total, 32 studies were included in this systematic review, out of which 26 articles were eligible for meta-analysis. The results showed that 68.75% of the studies were of high quality, and there is a significant relationship between social support and elder maltreatment. Accordingly, the lack of social support increased overall maltreatment (odds ratio: 1.24, 95% confidence interval: 1.16-1.33; I = 92.3%, p = 0.000)). Moreover, lack of social support had an increasing effect on the level of psychological abuse (1.55, 1.18-2.04; 88.7%, p = 0.000), physical abuse (1.31, 0.42-4.11; 76.3%, p = 0.005), and neglect (2.02, 0.86-4.72; 87.9%, p = 0.000), which shows heterogeneities among the results of the included studies. On the contrary, the lack of social support showed a decreasing effect on financial abuse (0.92, 0.70-1.21; 62.1%, p = 0.022).
CONCLUSION
This systematic review provides evidence that social support in the form of structural or functional support may plays an important role in improving the quality of life of the elderly.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Quality of Life; Cross-Sectional Studies; Elder Abuse; Social Support; Case-Control Studies
PubMed: 38110874
DOI: 10.1186/s12877-023-04541-6 -
Trauma, Violence & Abuse Jan 2024Violence against children-which includes maltreatment (including physical, sexual, psychological and emotional violence, and neglect), bullying (including... (Review)
Review
Violence against children-which includes maltreatment (including physical, sexual, psychological and emotional violence, and neglect), bullying (including cyberbullying), youth violence (including physical assault with or without weapons), intimate partner violence (including exposure to domestic violence and direct involvement in teen dating violence), and sexual violence-continues to present itself as a significant public health crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) leading to numerous short- and long-term deleterious outcomes. As such, the prevention of violence against children in SSA is a critical public health priority. In this systematic literature review, we identified 45 articles that reported on results from 22 programs that seek to reduce violence against children in SSA. Results suggested that programs that focus on (1) economic strengthening, (2) teachers schools, (3) entire families, (4) caregivers only, and (5) children only are generally effective in reducing violence against children by promoting focused action on the mechanisms of change (e.g., parenting skills, enhanced parent-child relationships, resistance skills for children). To date, no research in SSA has examined the impact of policy interventions on childhood victimization or community-level interventions to change norms and values that support violence against children. Future research is needed to examine the impacts of comprehensive efforts to prevent violence against children in SSA as well as factors that predict uptake and sustainability of such prevention efforts in SSA.
Topics: Adolescent; Humans; Child; Domestic Violence; Intimate Partner Violence; Crime Victims; Sex Offenses; Africa South of the Sahara
PubMed: 36964686
DOI: 10.1177/15248380231160742 -
Trauma, Violence & Abuse Dec 2023Parental substance use is highly prevalent worldwide, presenting major child safeguarding and public health concerns. Qualitative research enables in-depth understanding... (Review)
Review
Parental substance use is highly prevalent worldwide, presenting major child safeguarding and public health concerns. Qualitative research enables in-depth understanding of how young people experience parental substance use and helps inform practice and policy through illustrative cases of experiences. This review aimed to synthesize published qualitative evidence exploring the lived experiences, perceived impact, and coping strategies of children and young people whose parents use substances. International literature databases including Medline, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences, Social Science Database, Sociology Collection, and Scopus were searched from inception to 2022, alongside grey literature searching and relevant websites. Qualitative accounts were included, provided by participants aged below 25 years. No language, date, or geographical limits were applied. A thematic synthesis of 35 studies, across 49 papers, covering over 700 children and young people's voices, identified five overarching themes. These themes included, (a) living with the unpredictable: insecurity within the family; (b) social and emotional impact of parental substance use; (c) controlling the uncontrollable: creating safety within the family; (d) coping with and resisting the emotional and social impacts; and (e) formal and informal support. The findings emphasize that children and young people who experience parental substance use are trying to manage and mitigate vulnerabilities and be resilient to unpredictable, adverse, and often stigmatizing experiences, usually without formal support in place. Further research is needed to coproduce child-centered interventions that promote children and young people's social and emotional resilience.
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; Aged; Parents; Qualitative Research; Adaptation, Psychological; Substance-Related Disorders; Public Health
PubMed: 36384375
DOI: 10.1177/15248380221134297 -
Trauma, Violence & Abuse Jan 2024Children exposed to parental intimate partner violence and abuse, mental illness, and substance use experience a range of problems which may persist into adulthood.... (Review)
Review
Interventions to Reduce Parental Substance Use, Domestic Violence and Mental Health Problems, and Their Impacts Upon Children's Well-Being: A Systematic Review of Reviews and Evidence Mapping.
INTRODUCTION
Children exposed to parental intimate partner violence and abuse, mental illness, and substance use experience a range of problems which may persist into adulthood. These risks often co-occur and interact with structural factors such as poverty. Despite increasing evidence, it remains unclear how best to improve outcomes for children and families experiencing these adversities and address the complex issues they face.
AIMS AND METHODS
Systematic review of systematic reviews. We searched international literature databases for systematic reviews, from inception to 2021, to provide an evidence overview of the range and effectiveness of interventions to support children and families where these parental risk factors had been identified.
RESULTS
Sixty-two systematic reviews were included. The majority ( = 59) focused on interventions designed to address single risk factors. Reviews mostly focused on parental mental health ( = 38) and included psychological interventions or parenting-training for mothers. Only two reviews assessed interventions to address all three risk factors in combination and assessed structural interventions. Evidence indicates that families affected by parental mental health problems may be best served by integrated interventions combining therapeutic interventions for parents with parent skills training. Upstream interventions such as income supplementation and welfare reform were demonstrated to reduce the impacts of family adversity.
CONCLUSION
Most intervention approaches focus on mitigating individual psychological harms and seek to address risk factors in isolation, which presents potentially significant gaps in intervention evidence. These interventions may not address the cumulative impacts of co-occurring risks, or social factors that may compound adversities.
Topics: Female; Child; Humans; Mental Health; Systematic Reviews as Topic; Domestic Violence; Parents; Substance-Related Disorders
PubMed: 36789663
DOI: 10.1177/15248380231153867 -
Trauma, Violence & Abuse Jan 2024There is established evidence that childhood/adolescent victimization is associated with victimization in adulthood although the underlying mechanisms are not still... (Review)
Review
There is established evidence that childhood/adolescent victimization is associated with victimization in adulthood although the underlying mechanisms are not still clear. The current study aimed to systematically review empirical studies examining potential psychological factors linking childhood maltreatment to victimization in adulthood and the gaps in the literature. Following PRISMA protocol, 71 original studies consisting of a total sample of = 31,633 subjects were analyzed. Symptom severity for various trauma-related disorders, dissociation, emotion dysregulation, and risky sexual behaviors emerged as potential predictors of revictimization. While these potential risk factors mediate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and adulthood victimization, evidence for additional factors such as social support, attachment styles, maladaptive schemas, and risk detection is very limited. Addressing these intrapersonal risk factors, found by prior studies, in interventions and preventive programs might decrease the probability of revictimization. The interactions between the identified risk factors have not been studied well yet. Hence, more research on mediating risk factors of revictimization is needed.
Topics: Adolescent; Humans; Child; Crime Victims; Sexual Behavior; Child Abuse
PubMed: 36737881
DOI: 10.1177/15248380221150475 -
Trauma, Violence & Abuse Jan 2024Economic stress, broadly defined, is associated with an increased likelihood of multiple forms of violence. Food insecurity is a distinct economic stressor and material... (Review)
Review
Economic stress, broadly defined, is associated with an increased likelihood of multiple forms of violence. Food insecurity is a distinct economic stressor and material hardship that is amenable to programmatic and policy intervention. To inform intervention and identify gaps in the current evidence base, we conducted a systematic review to synthesize and critically evaluate the existing literature regarding the association between food insecurity and five forms of interpersonal and self-directed violence: intimate partner violence (IPV), suicidality, peer violence and bullying, youth dating violence, and child maltreatment, in high-income countries. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines and searched six electronic databases from their start date through February of 2022. We included studies that examined food insecurity as the exposure and an outcome measure of IPV, suicide, suicidality, peer violence, bullying, youth dating violence, or child maltreatment; were peer-reviewed and published in English; reported quantitative data; and took place in a high-income country. We identified 20 relevant studies. Nineteen studies found that food insecurity was associated with an increased likelihood of these forms of violence. Results highlight the potential for programs and policies that address food insecurity to function as primary prevention strategies for multiple forms of violence and underscore the importance of trauma-informed approaches in organizations providing food assistance. Additional theory-driven research with validated measures of food insecurity and clearly established temporality between measures of food insecurity and violence is needed to strengthen the existing evidence base.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Humans; Violence; Intimate Partner Violence; Child Abuse; Bullying; Food Insecurity
PubMed: 37009984
DOI: 10.1177/15248380231165689 -
Child Abuse & Neglect Aug 2023Sexual exploitation of children (SEC) is a widespread crime which impacts the child victim across developmental, health and well-being domains. As victims, boys have...
BACKGROUND
Sexual exploitation of children (SEC) is a widespread crime which impacts the child victim across developmental, health and well-being domains. As victims, boys have received much less clinical and research attention. While context-specific factors likely shape the SEC risk, under-recognized gender norms can deny boys' vulnerability. Professional failures to recognize and respond adequately to boys' sexual exploitation may prevent access to support.
OBJECTIVE
This systematic scoping review updates and broadens a previous review of literature addressing prevalence, victim/offender/facilitator characteristics, control mechanisms, as well as the health correlates and outcomes regarding sexual exploitation of boys. This review included international peer-reviewed and gray literature from 38 countries in 14 languages.
PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING
Studies from the years 2000 to 2022 that included samples of boys under age 18, or sex-disaggregated data for children under 18, were included. Case studies, systematic reviews, and those reporting on retrospective experiences by adults over 18 were excluded. A total of 254,744 boys were represented across 81 studies.
METHODS
A systematic scoping review considered qualitative and quantitative peer-reviewed publications from eight, English-language databases. English and non-English non-peer reviewed publications ('gray literature') was identified by both ECPAT International's global network of member organizations and citation chaining.
RESULTS
Overall, 81 peer-reviewed (n = 51) and gray literature (n = 30) documents from 38 countries were included. In total, 254,744 youth participated in peer-reviewed studies (N = 217,726) and gray literature (N = 37,018). General prevalence of sexual exploitation of boys was reported at up to 5 %, with higher rates noted in specifically vulnerable sub-populations (e.g., 10 %, trans youth; 26 %, street-connected youth). The literature indicates that sexual exploitation of boys is reported as occurring primarily between 12 and 18 years old. Multi-level factors are linked to SEC, including individual (e.g., disability status), relationship (e.g., child maltreatment, dating violence), community (e.g., community violence), and societal domains (e.g., discriminatory beliefs). SEC victimization is linked with youth mental and physical health concerns, particularly sexual health. Post-traumatic stress symptomatology or disorder was rarely evaluated. Evidence-based treatments were not available, which may be related to a lack of gender-based theoretical models for understanding SEC specifically.
CONCLUSION
The sexual exploitation of boys is a prevalent public health, child rights, and clinical issue. All young people experiencing sexual exploitation face sex- and gender-specific challenges, and this remains the case for boys with indications including family rejection, implicit community tolerance for abuse to service accessibility barriers. Actioning our duty to care for all children requires gender- and trauma-informed lenses. Ongoing surveillance of all forms of violence against children, with gender disaggregation, is essential for practice and policy advancement.
Topics: Male; Adult; Adolescent; Humans; Child; Retrospective Studies; Sexual Behavior; Violence; Crime Victims; Child Abuse
PubMed: 37244784
DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106244 -
Trauma, Violence & Abuse Jan 2024Domestic burglary victimization is a potentially traumatic experience, because most people consider their home as an extension of the self and a place where the self is... (Review)
Review
Domestic burglary victimization is a potentially traumatic experience, because most people consider their home as an extension of the self and a place where the self is protected against others. Intrusions to such a highly valued place are therefore considered as attacks to both one's personhood and one's safety and privacy and may render victims at risk of psychological distress. In view of the legal obligations most countries have with regard to screening crime victims for psychological distress, this study systematically reviewed the literature on determinants of psychological distress in domestic burglary victims. Web of Science, EBSCO, and ProQuest databases and reference lists were searched between February and July 2022 to identify relevant studies. In all, 10 studies met all inclusion criteria and were evaluated according to the Cambridge Quality Checklists. These checklists have been developed to assess the methodological qualities of observational research. Findings of included studies suggest that female sex, damages caused by the burglary, and evaluations of the police response are potential determinants of psychological distress. However, given the dearth of research and the old age and theoretical and methodological limitations of included studies, it is too early to draw definite conclusions about the predictive value of these and other factors and to provide directions for screening policies. Future research should use prospective designs to overcome these limitations and ensure that domestic burglary victims at risk of psychological distress are timely referred to adequate professional help services.
Topics: Humans; Female; Protective Factors; Crime Victims; Theft; Psychological Distress
PubMed: 36847259
DOI: 10.1177/15248380231155525 -
Journal of the National Medical... Jun 2024Elder abuse is a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, which causes harm to an older person. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Elder abuse is a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, which causes harm to an older person. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the prevalence of elder abuse in Sub Saharan Africa.
METHODS
This systematic review and meta-analysis involved a comprehensive search of electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, African Journals Online and Google Scholar. Cochrane I statistics and Eggers test with funnel plot were done to check heterogeneity and publication bias, respectively.
RESULT
Five studies with 2123 elderly people aged 60 and above were included in this review. The pooled prevalence of elder abuse was (46.73 % (45.08-48.38)) with a substantial level of heterogeneity (I2 =99.7 %; p < 0.001). To overcome the effect of high level heterogeneity subgroup analysis was deployed. Accordingly, the subgroup analysis by publication year revealed that the prevalence of elder abuse was highest among studies conducted after 2018 (64.034 (95 % CI: 12.66, 115.4). Similarly, sub-group analysis by country revealed that the prevalence of elder abuse was highest in Ethiopia (63.2(21.276, 105.124).The subgroup analysis by the sampling technique revealed that elder abuse was highest among studies conducted using systematic random sampling technique (84.57 (95 % CI: 79.22, 89.92). Subgroup analysis by type of abuse revealed that physical abuse was highest (29.27 (-7.854, 66.394)) CONCLUSION: The pooled prevalence of elder abuse was high and, physical abuse was the commonest type of abuse. As a result, there should be awareness creation about the caring of elders to minimize abuse.
Topics: Humans; Elder Abuse; Prevalence; Aged; Africa South of the Sahara; Middle Aged; Female; Aged, 80 and over
PubMed: 38797641
DOI: 10.1016/j.jnma.2024.05.002 -
Child Abuse & Neglect May 2024Exposure to violence has severe and lasting effects on development. Despite the body of research examining childhood exposures to violence and victimization,... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Exposure to violence has severe and lasting effects on development. Despite the body of research examining childhood exposures to violence and victimization, developmental outcomes during early adolescence are poorly understood.
OBJECTIVE
To synthesize existing research on the effects of violence exposure on early adolescent development (youth 9-14 years old) and highlight areas for future research.
METHOD
We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, and EMBASE for articles published between 2012 and 2023. Included articles focused on violence exposure related to experiencing or observing community violence, witnessing domestic violence and/or being the victim of chronic physical abuse.
RESULTS
Twenty-eight articles spanning four developmental domains were included: behavioral, biological, neurological, and social development. Behaviorally, violence exposure posed significant effects on both internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Biologically, violence exposure was strongly associated with advanced epigenetic age, accelerated puberty, and insomnia. Neurologically, violence exposure had significant associations with both structural and functional differences in the developing brain. Socially, violence exposure was related to poor school engagement, peer aggression, and low social support.
CONCLUSION
This systematic review highlights varying effects of violence exposure on early adolescent development. The gaps presented should be addressed and implemented into clinical practice via evidence-based policies and procedures to ensure successful transition to adulthood.
Topics: Adolescent; Humans; Child; Adolescent Development; Domestic Violence; Aggression; Crime Victims; Exposure to Violence
PubMed: 38531246
DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106751