Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China.
Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China.
Child Abuse Negl. 2019 Jul;93:79-90. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.04.019. Epub 2019 May 7.
Robust evidence suggests a strong association between juvenile victimization and delinquency. Yet, there is a lack of research on the protective factors at the individual level that may buffer the relationship between victimization and delinquent behaviors.
This study adopted a positive psychology perspective to examine the effects of three types of personal strength (self-regulation, interpersonal, and intellectual) on the relationship between different types of victimization and delinquency.
Data were collected from 631 Chinese migrant children (mean age = 10.52 ± 0.92 years) via convenience sampling.
Participants completed a self-reported questionnaire that assessed experiences of victimization in family, interpersonal, and community settings, involvement in delinquent behaviors, and personal strengths.
The prevalence of different delinquent behaviors was significantly higher in the victimization groups than in the non-victimization groups. Regression analyses revealed that all three types of personal strength served as direct predictors of delinquency (B = -0.46, SE = .09, p < .001; B = -0.23, SE = .06, p < .001; B = -0.19, SE = .05, p < .001), while self-regulation further moderated the victimization-delinquency relationship. When self-regulation was high, the association between victimization and delinquency was significantly weaker than when self-regulation was low.
Our findings suggest that personal strengths are important protective factors for youth exposed to experiences of victimization. Identifying methods to help victims recognize, develop, and use their personal strengths should be integral to support and intervention efforts for young victims.
大量证据表明，青少年受害与犯罪之间存在很强的关联性。然而，在个体层面上，对于可能缓冲受害与犯罪行为之间关系的保护因素的研究还很缺乏。
本研究采用积极心理学的观点，考察三种个人力量（自我调节、人际交往和智力）对不同类型的受害与犯罪行为之间关系的影响。
通过便利抽样，从 631 名中国流动儿童（平均年龄=10.52±0.92 岁）中收集数据。
参与者完成了一份自我报告问卷，该问卷评估了他们在家庭、人际关系和社区环境中受害、参与犯罪行为以及个人力量的经历。
在受害群体中，不同犯罪行为的发生率明显高于非受害群体。回归分析显示，所有三种个人力量都直接预测犯罪（B=-0.46，SE=0.09，p<0.001；B=-0.23，SE=0.06，p<0.001；B=-0.19，SE=0.05，p<0.001），而自我调节进一步调节了受害与犯罪之间的关系。当自我调节较高时，受害与犯罪之间的关联明显弱于自我调节较低时。
我们的研究结果表明，个人力量是青少年遭受受害经历的重要保护因素。确定帮助受害者认识、发展和利用个人力量的方法应该是支持和干预年轻受害者的重要组成部分。
