Marc Allroggen

Lifetime prevalence and incidence of sexual victimization of adolescents in institutional care

The frequency of sexual victimization in high-risk populations like adolescents in institutional care has hardly been studied. In this study, we report lifetime prevalence and incidence from a nationwide German sample including 322 adolescents (mean age 16.69 years, 43% female) from 20 residential care facilities and 12 boarding schools. Lifetime prevalence for severe sexual victimization (in and outside of institution) was 46.7% for girls and 8.0% for boys. Moreover, 5% of all adolescents experienced severe sexual victimization for the first time after they were admitted to the current institution (mean duration of stay in the current institution 3.08 years). Offenders were mostly adolescents of the same age whereas staff members played a minor role as perpetrators. We conclude that the high rate of sexual victimization among adolescents in institutional care should be considered during decision-making processes concerning out-of-home placement and during a stay in residential care.

Validation of the Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire Short Scale (NARQ-S) in convenience and representative samples

Due to increased empirical interest in narcissism across the social sciences, there is a need for inventories that can be administered quickly while also reliably measuring both the agentic and antagonistic aspects of grandiose narcissism. In this study, we sought to validate the factor structure, provide representative descriptive data and reliability estimates, assess the reliability across the trait spectrum, and examine the nomological network of the short version of the Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire (NARQ-S; Back et al., 2013). We used data from a large convenience sample (total N = 11,937) as well as data from a large representative sample (total N = 4,433) that included responses to other narcissism measures as well as related constructs, including the other Dark Triad traits, Big Five personality traits, and self-esteem. Confirmatory factor analysis and item response theory were used to validate the factor structure and estimate the reliability across the latent trait spectrum, respectively. Results suggest that the NARQ-S shows a robust factor structure and is a reliable and valid short measure of the agentic and antagonistic aspects of grandiose narcissism. We also discuss future directions and applications of the NARQ-S as a short and comprehensive measure of grandiose narcissism.

Nonsuicidal self-injury and its relation to personality traits in medical students.

Abstract Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) has a high prevalence among the general undergraduate population, but as yet, no study has investigated the rate of NSSI among medical students despite the high levels of depression and suicidal ideation found in this population. Our study aimed to estimate the prevalence of NSSI and suicide attempts in German medical students and explore the associations between these behaviors and the five major personality traits. Seven hundred fourteen medical students (67% women; age range, 18–35 years; mean age, 23.1 years) participated in an online survey. We report a lifetime prevalence of 14.3% for NSSI and 1.5% for suicide attempt. The students with NSSI showed higher levels of neuroticism and openness to experience but lower levels of conscientiousness and extraversion on the NEO Five-Factor Inventory. Our results are in line with previous research from other countries regarding the prevalence of NSSI among students and its association with personality.

How much insecurity does security need? The discrepancy in assessing the sense of security of children, adolescents, and caregivers in institutions

ABSTRACT When developing concepts for protecting children and youth who live in institutions, the perspective of the addressees has so far been insufficiently taken into account. This study aims to compare the assessment of children, youth, and caregivers in institutions with regard to group atmosphere, participation, and sense of safety. A combined quantitative and qualitative approach compares the assessment of children or youth and caregivers in child and youth welfare institutions, boarding schools, and clinics through the use of an online questionnaire and group discussions that address the topics safety, group atmosphere, and participation. The quantitative questionnaire included 233 youth age 14 years and up and 490 caregivers; 87 children or youth between the ages of 11 and 18 years and 73 caregivers were part of the qualitative group discussion. The questionnaire showed that youth and caregivers assessed the sense of security in principle as positive. With regard to group atmosphere and participation, youth tended to see these aspects in a positive light, but almost all youth-aged participants viewed these specific categories more critically than did the adult caregivers. The results from the group discussions make clear that children, adolescents, and caregivers often underestimate the real dangers. The existing sense of security in institutions may be the result of underestimating real dangers. Implications for the implementation of protection concepts are drawn.

Sexual Violence by Juveniles in Institutions: A Descriptive Study on Prevalence and Circumstances:

Adolescents in institutionalized care are at a particularly high risk of exhibiting sexually aggressive behavior including sexual harassment. So far, however, studies about the prevalence of sexually aggressive behavior in institutions are lacking. In this survey, 322 adolescents (43% female, average age 16.7 years) from 32 residential care facilities and boarding schools across Germany were asked about sexually aggressive behavior via a standardized questionnaire. Overall, 23.5% of the participants engaged in some form of sexually aggressive behavior in their lives, and 4.6% reported having committed a sexual assault with (actual or attempted) penetration. A closer look at the circumstances of those offenses shows that the victims were in most cases acquainted with and of the same age as the offenders, that threats and violence were used in some cases, and especially in the case of actual or attempted penetration, and that only a minority of offenders suffered any consequences for their acts. The implementation of protective measures for institutions and the treatment of adolescents in institutions will be discussed.

Kontakt mit der Jugendhilfe – Sozialarbeit in der Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie

Die Aufgaben der Sozialarbeit in der Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie umfassen: Einleitung padagogischer Masnahmen uber die Jugendhilfe Fragen der Krankenversorgung und der Arbeitsintegration und Rehabilitation Unterstutzung der Eltern, Hilfen nach den verschiedenen Sozialgesetzbuchern zu erlangen Bei Kindeswohlgefahrdung kann die Einbeziehung der Sozialarbeiter wichtig sein, um eine Inobhutnahme (§ 42 SGB VIII) zu veranlassen

Kindheitserlebnisse von Jugendlichen in Internaten. Ein Vergleich mit Jugendlichen aus Jugendhilfeeinrichtungen und der Allgemeinbevölkerung

Childhood Experiences of Adolescents in Boarding Schools. A Comparison with Adolescents in Residential Care and with the General Population Various studies indicate that students in boarding schools experience a lot of violence during their accommodation. However, it is not proved whether adolescents in boarding schools are also a burdensome group regarding early childhood experiences such as neglect and abuse. The aim of the study was to find out more about the experiences of adolescents in boarding schools and to determine whether there are differences between adolescents in residential care and between the general population. Furthermore, it should be examined whether boys and girls differ in their experiences. In the study, adolescents of boarding schools and of residential care all over Germany, starting at the age of 15 (n = 322), were asked regarding physical and emotional neglect/abuse, light/severe parent violence, negative/positive educational behavior of the parents. The results show that students in boarding schools were less likely to be affected by childhood maltreatment and more likely to have experienced positive parental behavior compared to children in residential care. Compared to the general population, students in boarding schools were more often and more severely affected by parental violence. Moreover, girls had experienced parental violence more often than boys. The results indicate that in boarding schools there is a need for support offers for adolescents with a history of violent experiences and that the risk group should be identified directly at the admission to the school.

Comparison of Psychopathological Symptoms in Adolescents Who Experienced Sexual Violence as a Victim and/or as a Perpetrator

ABSTRACT Research on sexual violence victims and perpetrators indicates that victims in general are found to report higher levels of psychopathological symptoms, especially internalizing behavior, whereas perpetrators often show externalizing behavior. Little is known, however, about the psychopathology of perpetrators of sexual violence who have also experienced sexual victimization (victim-perpetrators). Thus, the aim of the current study was to examine this group within a sample of adolescents living in residential care or federal boarding schools. Participants reported their lifetime experience with sexual violence (both as victim and perpetrator) and completed the Youth Self Report. Results indicate that all three groups of adolescents with sexual violence experience report higher total problem scores than adolescents without this experience. Victim-perpetrators show results more similar to those of perpetrators only than those of victims only. The discussion deals with the implications of our findings for the treatment of victims of sexual violence.

Bedrohungsszenarien und Gewalt gegenüber Dritten in der Psychotherapie

ZusammenfassungAggressives Verhalten, Gewaltfantasien und potenzielle Bedrohungen gegenüber Dritten sind häufige Themen in der Psychotherapie. Bei der Beurteilung des Risikos für aggressives Verhalten sind klinische, soziale und situative Faktoren zu berücksichtigen. Das Vorhandensein von aggressiven Fantasien und Drohungen kann als Warnhinweis für eine potenzielle Bedrohung verstanden werden. Beim Umgang mit Drohungen gegenüber Dritten sind auf rechtlicher Ebene Schweigepflicht, Offenbarungsbefugnisse und Offenbarungspflichten sowie bei einer Kindeswohlgefährdung teilweise abweichende Regelungen zu beachten.AbstractAggressive behaviour, violent fantasies and potential threats against third parties are frequent topics in psychotherapy. Clinical, social and dynamic factors have to be considered for the risk assessment of aggressive behaviour. The appearance of aggressive fantasies and threats can be perceived as an indicator for potential threats. Legal aspects such as medical confidentiality, rights and duties to warn have to be kept in mind when dealing with threats against third parties. Concerning threats against children different laws have to be considered.

Die Organisation von Schutz als alltägliche Praxis: Sexualität und Schutzkonzepte aus der Perspektive von Jugendlichen in stationären Einrichtungen

Stationare Einrichtungen sind beauftragt und verpflichtet, die Sicherheit der dort lebenden Kinder und Jugendlichen zu wahren. Die Autor_innen konstatieren in ihrem Beitrag, dass die Etablierung eines Schutzkonzeptes gegen sexualisierte Gewalt mit einer organisationalen Kontextualisierung sowie der Einnahme einer Adressat_innenperspektive einhergehen musse. Es werden insbesondere die Umsetzung der Schutzkonzepte in der sozialpadagogischen Praxis sowie der organisationale Kontext in den Blick genommen.