The victimization of children and youth: a comprehensive, national survey

Child Maltreat. 2005 Feb;10(1):5-25. doi: 10.1177/1077559504271287.

Abstract

This study examined a large spectrum of violence, crime, and victimization experiences in a nationally representative sample of children and youth ages 2 to 17 years. More than one half (530 per 1,000) of the children and youth had experienced a physical assault in the study year, more than 1 in 4 (273 per 1,000) a property offense, more than 1 in 8 (136 per 1,000) a form of child maltreatment, 1 in 12 (82 per 1,000) a sexual victimization, and more than 1 in 3 (357 per 1,000) had been a witness to violence or experienced another form of indirect victimization. Only a minority (29%) had no direct or indirect victimization. The mean number of victimizations for a child or youth with any victimization was 3.0, and a child or youth with one victimization had a 69% chance of experiencing another during a single year.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child Abuse / statistics & numerical data*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Crime Victims*
  • Demography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*
  • United States / epidemiology