This study examines the relationship between self-reported sexual violence perpetration and victimization experiences in a nationally representative sample of 4,024 Spanish adolescents aged 14–17. Drawing on the victim–offender overlap framework and developmental victimology, the study explores patterns of victimization and polyvictimization among adolescents who reported engaging in sexually violent behaviors during the past year. Results indicate that 4

Background Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a major public health problem that disproportionately affects children and young people involved in the child welfare system. Objective This study estimated the reported prevalence of CSE among adolescents in residential care facilities in a northern region of Spain and identified associated risk factors. Participants and setting The sample included 119 adolescents (51.3% male, 45.4% female) aged 14–18 years (M = 15.95), residing in 26 residential care facilities across northern Spain. Methods An ad hoc online questionnaire assessed (a) sociodemographic characteristics, (b) child protection history, (c) knowledge and perceptions of CSE, and (d) personal experiences of CSE. Results Overall, 17.6% of participants in this regional sample reported experiencing some form of CSE in the past year. The most prevalent form was sharing sexual images or videos, followed by sexual intercourse and sexual touching. Compared with non-victims, those who experienced CSE were more likely to be female, to have run away from the residential facility, to have received prior CSE education, and to know someone involved in CSE. Conclusions Findings underscore the urgent need for targeted prevention and intervention strategies addressing CSE among youth in residential care. Comprehensive approaches should include professional training, systematic screening and risk assessment, and direct interventions. These should be implemented through an intersectional framework that acknowledges multiple vulnerabilities and risk factors to better protect young people within the child welfare system.

Despite recent legislative and social progress, violence against children and adolescents remains a serious and unaddressed public health issue. This article examines the prevalence of child and adolescent victimization in Spain assessed using different versions of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ), framed in the developmental victimology approach. The JVQ assesses multiple forms of violence (including conventional crime, caregiver maltreatment, peer victimization, sexual victimization, community violence, and electronic victimization) based on minors' self-reports. Several Spanish-adapted versions of the JVQ are examined and data presented from different regions and at-risk populations. The findings reveal a high prevalence of polyvictimization, particularly among adolescents in clinical, judicial, or child protection settings. The article concludes that there is an urgent need for enhanced early detection and assessment of child victimization using tools adapted and grounded in developmental victimology. It also calls for expanded research on vulnerable groups and children under the age of 12. The importance of translating empirical findings into professional practice and evidence-based public policy design and evaluation is also highlighted.

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is recognized as a major public health problem affecting a significant number of children and youth worldwide. Despite heightened awareness, professionals working with children and adolescents, particularly within religious settings, often hold misconceptions that hinder effective prevention and intervention. This study aimed to assess Spanish pastoral agents' knowledge of CSA and identify subgroup differences (e.g. by gender or age group). A total of 403 individuals (72.8% women, 27.2% men; age range 16-80, M = 44.6 years, SD = 17.3) responded to ten statements evaluating common myths and factual misconceptions about CSA. Results indicated that pastoral agents generally demonstrated accurate knowledge, though significant gaps remained, especially regarding prevalence. Notably, misconceptions such as "CSA is more frequent in low socioeconomic status families" and "the perpetrator is always a stranger" revealed marked gender-based differences. In addition, agents working primarily with younger children showed a higher level of belief in CSA myths compared to those working with adolescents. These findings underscore critical areas for targeted educational interventions. Training should address overlooked dimensions, particularly prevalence data and socioeconomic stereotypes, and be tailored to specific subgroups. Incorporating current empirical evidence and highlighting contextual risk factors may enhance pastoral agents' capacity to recognize, prevent, and respond effectively to CSA within their communities. By clarifying misunderstandings and strengthening professional preparedness, tailored programs can help bridge existing knowledge gaps and foster safer, more informed environments for vulnerable youth.

Introduction: This systematic review aims to identify and synthesize the global empirical evidence on victimization and polyvictimization among juvenile offenders aged 10–19 years. Method: The review protocol was developed following PRISMA guidelines. Quantitative studies published between 2000 and 2024 in English or Spanish were included if they assessed victimization or polyvictimization using standardized or validated instruments and Official records, case files, and ad hoc items or non-standardized self-reports. Bibliographic searches were conducted in PubMed, PsycInfo, Scopus, Web of Science, and ProQuest between August and December 2024. Results: A total of 55 studies were included, with a predominance of cross-sectional designs ( n = 39) over longitudinal studies ( n = 16), and the majority conducted in the United States ( n = 39). Risk of bias was generally low, particularly for participant recruitment and statistical analyses. Findings indicate that victimization and polyvictimization experiences are highly prevalent in this population. Sexual victimization, physical abuse, neglect, and exposure to violence were among the most frequently reported forms, with polyvictimization affecting a substantial proportion of adolescents. Conclusions: The evidence highlights a critical and widespread prevalence of adverse experiences among juvenile offenders, with rates of exposure to violence often exceeding 90%. Exposure to violence and polyvictimization were particularly common. These findings underscore the urgent need for trauma-informed approaches within the juvenile justice system that address cumulative adversities, reduce recidivism risk, and promote mental health outcomes.

OBJECTIVE:While extensive research has documented the detrimental effects of multiple violent experiences on children's psychological well-being, studies exploring protective factors remain limited. This longitudinal study examines how children's positive perceptions of family and school environments mitigate the impact of poly-victimization on psychological well-being and explores whether these mechanisms operate differently for boys and girls. METHOD:The sample includes 971 students aged 7 to 13 years (52.6% boys, 46.9% girls; M = 9.72, SD = 1.16), with data collected in Spain between 2022 and 2024. Correlations among study variables were analyzed, followed by a path analysis that modeled family and school perceptions as mediators between poly-victimization and psychological well-being. After confirming a significant mediating effect, conditional process modeling was used to examine gender as a moderator of these relationships. RESULTS:Positive perceptions of both family and school environments mediated the association between poly-victimization and psychological well-being. This effect was not moderated by gender. CONCLUSIONS:Positive family and school perceptions mitigate the negative associations between poly-victimization and well-being for all youth, regardless of gender. These findings underscore the importance of interventions aimed at strengthening family and school support systems to enhance the resilience of victimized children and early adolescents. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Adolescent pornography consumption has become increasingly prevalent, yet empirical evidence based on representative samples remains limited in some cultural contexts, including Spain. To determine the prevalence and characteristics of intentional pornography access among Spanish adolescents, and to examine its relationship with demographic variables (gender, age), personal factors (impulsivity, moral emotions, sexual orientation), behavioral aspects (alcohol consumption, running away from home), and cultural factors (country of origin). A representative sample of 4,024 adolescents aged 14–17 years (M = 15.4; 52.6

Assessment of child sexual abuse requires highly qualified, multidisciplinary professional teams working in a coordinated manner. The Barnahus model responds to these needs and is beginning to be implemented in Spain. This study aims to present and evaluate the effectiveness of the STEPS training course, which includes two programs: one aimed at Barnahus professionals conducting interviews in the forensic context, and the other intended for professionals who carry out psychological interventions with victims. The results show that STEPS training increases the knowledge of professionals, although a significant increase is only observed in training for psychological intervention. The results are discussed and the practical implications are presented, highlighting the need to develop continuous training programs to ensure comprehensive and effective care for victims.

Peer victimization and alcohol consumption are significant public health concerns in adolescence. This study examined their relationship and moderating factors among 4024 Spanish adolescents aged 14–17. Results show that 22

The growth of video game–related digital communities has redefined social interaction, creating global spaces for connection while simultaneously introducing new opportunities for criminal activity. Among these, sexual victimization remains a largely underexplored issue. This study examines experiences of sexual victimization within these communities using data from a representative survey of 1,812 Spanish adult gamers. Results show that 19.6

Objective To investigate suicidal ideation among adolescents with learning disabilities and examine whether learning disabilities and a range of risk and protective factors assessed at age 13 are associated with suicidal ideation at age 15. Methods Longitudinal data were drawn from a youth population-based cohort (Zurich Project on the Social Development from Childhood to Adulthood [z-proso]; N = 1675). Modified Poisson regression was used to estimate the relative risk of suicidal ideation at age 15, with learning disabilities along with the other variables as predictors. An additional model included an interaction term between learning disabilities and anxiety/depression symptoms to test whether the association between anxiety/depression and suicidal ideation varied by learning disability status. Average marginal effects were used to estimate absolute differences in predicted probabilities between groups. Results Adolescents with learning disabilities reported significantly higher rates of suicidal ideation (32.5 %) and self-injury (18.4 %) compared to peers without learning disabilities. They showed elevated levels of most risk factors and lower levels of protective factors. Significant predictors of increased relative risk of suicidal ideation included female sex, anxiety/depression symptoms, bullying experiences, and learning disabilities, the latter associated with a 40.2 % higher risk (RR = 1.402, 95 % CI = [1.070, 1.387]). Average marginal effects indicated that anxiety/depression significantly increased suicidal ideation risk among adolescents without learning disabilities but not among those with learning disabilities. Conclusions Findings suggest that learning disabilities are a significant risk factor for adolescent suicidal ideation, highlighting the need for early identification, tailored assessment, and targeted prevention strategies.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Research on the prevalence of child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church has been limited in Europe. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and characteristics of religious-related sexual abuse in a broad sample of the Spanish population, placing it within the broader context of sexual violence against children and adolescents. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING:Among the survey respondents, 52.3% were women (n = 4,188) and 47.7% were men (n = 3,825). Participants ranged in age from 18 to 100 years (M = 51.5, SD = 17.6), with the majority (n = 7,154; 89.5%) born in Spain. RESULTS:The results indicated that 11.7% of respondents were victims of child sexual abuse, with a higher prevalence among women (8.6%) compared to men (3.1%). A total of 1.1% of respondents reported having experienced religious-related sexual abuse, primarily in religious educational institutions or churches, with 0.6% identifying a Catholic clergyman as the perpetrator. The majority of ecclesiastical abuse involved physical contact, and in many cases, the abuse was recurrent. Victims of religious-related abuse reported more significant spiritual consequences compared to those abused in other contexts. CONCLUSION:The findings highlight patterns of sexual abuse similar to those observed in other countries, with a notable prevalence of abuse in male Catholic schools during the Franco dictatorship era.

Background Sexual minority youth are particularly vulnerable to victimization and polyvictimization. Objective This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of victimization and polyvictimization over the past year among secondary school students in Spain who identify as sexual minorities, and analyze differences based on gender and ethnicity. Participants and setting In a sample of 4024 adolescents (M = 15.52, SD = 0.99), 13.9 % (n = 559) of participants self-identified as belonging to a sexual minority (i.e., lesbian, gay, bisexual, or other (LGB)). The gender distribution indicated that 23.3 % of participants self-identified as boys, 66.7 % as girls, 4.8 % as having non-conforming gender identities, and 5.2 % preferred not to respond. Most participants identified as European ethnicity (81.4 %), while 18.6 % identified as minority ethnic groups. Methods An adapted version of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ) was used incorporating additional questions on sexual exploitation and online victimization. Results 74.1 % of LGB youth reported experiencing at least one form of victimization. Caregiver victimization was reported by 43.5 % and electronic victimization by 42.9 % of participants. Gender differences were observed, with individuals identifying as non-conforming reporting notably high prevalence rates. Ethnic differences were also found, with minorities reporting higher prevalence rates in several victimization experiences. The mean number of victimizations was 4.6 (SD = 3.7). Overall, 32.4 % of youth were classified as polyvictims. Conclusions Given the high prevalence of victimization and polyvictimization among LGB youth, and its intersection with gender and ethnic minorities, the findings underscore the importance of developing prevention programs tailored to address the unique needs and vulnerabilities of this population.

The integration of extended reality (XR) technologies—virtual (VR) and augmented (AR)—into child sexual abuse (CSA) interventions has grown over the past decade. This systematic review explores the application, efficacy, and ethical implications of XR tools in psychosocial, forensic, preventive, and therapeutic approaches addressing CSA. Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed, identifying 11 empirical studies published between 2014 and 2024. Three main intervention categories emerged: (1) professional training, (2) prevention, and (3) therapeutic treatment. Most studies focused on enhancing forensic interviewing skills through avatar-based simulations and immersive training, demonstrating increased use of relevant questions and improved self-efficacy among professionals. Preventive interventions used VR and serious games in school settings to promote body safety awareness and protective behaviors in children. Despite their promise, only one study addressed therapeutic applications directly, highlighting the use of a nonverbal digital tool and serious game to facilitate trauma narration in children with CSA experiences, based on trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT). The findings emphasize XR's potential to foster engagement, realism, and emotional safety in highly sensitive contexts, specifically in CSA interventions. However, challenges include limited longitudinal evidence, lack of culturally diverse studies, and ethical concerns about exposure, re-victimization, and emotional risks for minors. This review underscores the need for more ethically rigorous research to determine the impact of XR-based interventions in child sexual victimization management.

In order to describe post-traumatic growth in survivors of childhood sexual violence in Iberoamerica, 195 adult men and women who reported sexual violence in their childhood were surveyed. Using multiple linear regression, the effect of faith, psychosocial, and mental health problems, type of sexual violence, and gender of participants on post-traumatic growth was identified. Post-traumatic growth is shown in survivors of childhood sexual violence in all the dimensions evaluated, contributing to its prediction the degree of religiosity (p <.001), psychosocial and mental health problems (p <.001) and the type of sexual violence experienced (p = .027), though, no gender effects were identified (p = .154). It is necessary to embed post-traumatic growth as a relevant dimension in the therapeutic intervention, broadening the gaze focused on damage to add survivors' resources and strengths.

Background Child sexual exploitation (CSE) involves using a child or youth as a sexual object in exchange for remuneration, reward, or favors, meeting their survival needs, and also serving the perpetrator's aims for sexual, social, or economic gain. Objective The present study addresses the prevalence of CSE in Spain. Participants: A representative sample of 4024 secondary school adolescents from 14 to 17 years old (M = 15.42, SD = 1.034) was surveyed. Methods Three questions adapted from previous European studies on the topic were used. Results An overall prevalence of 2.6 % was recorded, comprising exchange of sexual material (1.7 %), sexual touching (0.9 %), and sexual relations involving oral sex or penetration (0.9 %). While no significant age-related differences emerged, gender-specific patterns were observed. Boys exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of oral and penetrative sex than girls (1.2 % vs 0.5 %), while girls showed a slightly higher prevalence of exchange of sexual material (2 % vs 1.2 %) than boys. LGB youth reported a significantly higher risk for CSE than heterosexual youth (5.5 % vs 2.1 %), and European adolescents reported less CSE (2.2 % vs. 4.1 %) than youths from other ethnicities. Conclusions CSE should be a social concern because it affects a substantial number of children worldwide. Interventions should adopt an intersectional perspective that incorporates the various risk factors associated with this form of victimization.

The study examines profiles of adolescents based on their experiences of victimization and perpetration over the past 12 months using a representative sample of 4,024 Spanish youth aged 14-17 (M = 15.24; SD = 1.56). Participants were assessed on sociodemographic variables, moral emotions, victimization experiences, violent behavior perpetration, alcohol and pornography consumption, and runaway behavior. Four distinct clusters were identified: "no violence" (59.4%), "victimization only" (32.0%), "polyvictimization and perpetration" (8.1%), and "polyvictimization and polyperpetration" (0.5%). Significant demographic differences emerged, particularly in gender, with males overrepresented in groups involving perpetration. Victim-offenders exhibited elevated levels of risk factors, including moral disengagement, alcohol and pornography use, and runaway tendencies. These findings highlight the nuanced relationships between victimization and perpetration. Adolescents in the most severe profiles (polyvictimization and polyperpetration) were at greater risk of antisocial behaviors. The study emphasizes the necessity for targeted interventions that address the specific needs of each profile. Policymakers and practitioners must design prevention and social intervention programs that consider these diverse profiles, focusing on the intricate interplay between victimization, perpetration, and associated risk factors. These efforts are crucial for mitigating the development of antisocial behavior and providing support to juvenile victims and offenders.

BACKGROUND:Evidence shows that asking children about their lives is possible and uniquely valuable, and there are international agreements on children's right to participation. However, research on child victimization has traditionally relied on proxy informants or retrospective questionnaires. Instruments for asking children about their experiences are administered as interviews, do not report psychometric properties and target children over 11 years old (y.o.). OBJECTIVE:This study presents an adaptation of the world's most robust, comprehensive, and widely used instrument for measuring violence against children, the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ) (Finkelhor, Ormrod, et al., 2005), in a self-report version for children between 8 and 12 y.o. METHODS:A first version was proposed based on methodological recommendations. We gathered evidence of validity and reliability in three phases: an expert review (n = 38), cognitive interviews and focus groups with children (n = 25), and a pilot test with children (n = 782). RESULTS:The results and participants' suggestions led to a 15-item version assessing five modules (electronic victimization, sexual victimization, peer and sibling victimization, caregiver victimization, and exposure to violence). This version demonstrated adequate psychometric properties in terms of validity (e.g., correlations in the expected direction and magnitude) and reliability (e.g., connectedness among items). Children's participation was key to ensure comprehensiveness and no major distress. CONCLUSIONS:This version of the JVQ for Children and Early Adolescents (JVQ-CEA) allows the voices of children between 8 and 12 y.o. to be included in child victimization research, in accordance with international agreements on children's right to participation.