Polyvictimization and suicidal behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic in youth participating in projects of the Sename/Mejor Niñez network

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures brought about significant changes in social structures and family organization, factors that contributed to an increase in risk factors for childhood and adolescence. This is particularly evident in relation to experiences of victimization and their impact on mental health. Method: The sample consists of 125 individuals aged 14 to 18 (M = 15.65; SD = 1.22), participants in outpatient intervention projects within the SENAME/Mejor Niñez protection network. Results: 38.7 % of the sample reported some form of victimization since the beginning of the lockdown, with 14.1 % positioning themselves as polyvictims having experienced 3 or more victimization events. Additionally, 34.4 % of the young individuals expressed some form of suicidal behavior. Gender, sexual orientation, and polyvictimization are variables that significantly contribute to suicidal behavior. Conclusions: The analyzed sample shows a lower prevalence of victimization compared to previous studies with the general population, which may indicate that restrictive measures could have acted as a protective factor in vulnerable youth. Victimization, particularly the accumulation of experiences of violence, plays a relevant and understudied role in the increase of suicidal behavior during the pandemic period.