Social network sites SNSs are increasingly attracting the attention of academic and industry researchers intrigued by their affordances and reach This special theme section of the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication brings together scholarship on these emergent phenomena In this introductory article, we describe features of SNSs and propose a comprehensive definition We then present one perspective on the history of such sites, discussing key changes and developments After briefly summarizing existing scholarship concerning SNSs, we discuss the articles in this special section and conclude with considerations for future research

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00393.x

Social Network Sites: Definition, History, and Scholarship

Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques

http://www.iowaaces360.org/uploads/1/0/9/2/10925571/relationship_of_childhood_abuse_and..._1998.pdf

Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study

The world report on violence and health.

Attachment--and loss.

Importance Epidemiological literature on children’s mental health and children’s adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have consistently pointed to widespread, unaddressed, and treatable high-risk conditions among children. Objective To estimate the proportion of children with either high levels of ACEs and/or high levels of mental health symptoms who were not receiving services from behavioral health professionals. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study included 11 896 children who participated in 3 National Surveys of Children’s Exposure to Violence (NatSCEV), which were nationally representative surveys conducted in 2008, 2011, and 2014. The surveys entailed telephone interviews with youth aged 10 to 17 years and caregivers of children aged 2 to 9 years. Data were analyzed from February to August 2020. Main Outcomes and Measures Nationally representative samples were obtained from a mix of random digit dial and address-based sampling methods. The primary outcome was the proportion of children with high ACEs, high distress symptoms, and both who were receiving clinical contact, broken down by demographic characteristics. Results Of the 11 896 children, 4045 (34.0%) participated in the 2008 NatSCEV; 4112 (34.6%) in the 2011 NatSCEV; and 3738 (31.4%) in the 2014 NatSCEV; 5532 (46.5%) were aged 2 to 9 years (2785 [50.4%] aged 2-5 years; 2693 [48.7%] girls; 3521 [63.7%] White children), and 6365 (53.5%) were aged 10 to 17 years (3612 [56.7%] aged 14-17 years; 3117 [49.0%] female participants; 4297 [67.5%] White individuals). Among participants aged 2 to 9 years, no clinical contact was reported for 57% (95% CI, 51%-62%) of the high ACE group, 53% (95% CI, 48%-58%) of the high distress symptom group, and 41% (95% CI, 32%-51%) of the group with high levels on both indicators. Among participants aged 10 to 17 years, the group with no clinical contact comprised 63% (95% CI, 56%-69%) of the high ACE group, 52% (95% CI, 46%-57%) of the high distress symptom group, and 62% (95% CI, 51%-71%) of youth scoring high on both indicators. Among racial groups, odds of contact were very low for Black children aged 2 to 9 years with high ACEs compared with non-Hispanic White children with the same age and exposure (odds ratio, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.14-0.49). Conclusions and Relevance In this cross-sectional study combining findings from 3 US national surveys, large portions of children at high risk because of adversity or mental health symptoms were not receiving clinical services. Better ways are needed to find these at-risk populations and help them obtain relevant intervention resources.

/pdf/receipt-of-behavioral-health-services-among-us-children-and-zgj2v75723.pdf

Receipt of Behavioral Health Services Among US Children and Youth With Adverse Childhood Experiences or Mental Health Symptoms

We document four patterns of sibling victimization (Persist, New, Desist, and None) across two time points and their association with peer victimization at time two and whether these linkages are apparent in early childhood, middle childhood and adolescence. A telephone survey (N = 1653) was conducted with a nationally representative sample of U.S. parents with children (age 3–9) and adolescents (age 10 to 17). The four patterns differed by age, gender, ethnicity and parent education levels but not family structure. The Persist, New and Desist sibling victimization patterns were associated with a greater likelihood of peer victimization. Sibling victimization patterns were unrelated to peer victimization in early childhood but predictive of peer victimization in middle childhood and adolescence. Findings showed that sibling victimization leaves children and adolescents vulnerable to peer victimization. Children and adolescents who experienced chronic sibling victimization (Persist group) were particularly vulnerable to peer victimization. Eliminating sibling victimization could reduce peer victimization in middle childhood and adolescence.

Patterns of sibling victimization as predictors of peer victimization in childhood and adolescence

In every country, the studies have established a prevalence of abuse far exceeding the scope of the problem that would be inferred from the number of cases that were officially reported. At this magnitude, it is clear that virtually any mental health professional is going to be dealing with many individuals who have been sexually abused, whether disclosed or not. The prevalence surveys have also given important epidemiological information about the distribution of the problem, at least as it applies to North America and to some extent Europe as well. Boys seem less likely to disclose for several reasons. Boys seem to have more of a peer ethic of being independent, and not asking adults for help. They are concerned about adults trying to curtail their freedom, which they fear will happen if they admit to victimization, which is something that normally happens only to girls.

Child Sexual Abuse : Challenges Facing Child Protection and Mental Health Professionals

Previous research in the study of family abduction has been plagued by three problems in efforts to establish risk factors for the experience of these events: (1) failure to use appropriate comparison groups; (2) focus on only the most severe cases of abduction, without consideration of the full spectrum of these events; and (3) use of data drawn only from some “reported” source (i.e., police, court, or missing children agency reports). This paper addresses these three methodological difficulties, using data drawn from a national sample of families, and including both abducted and nonabducted children. We find that race, age of children, family size, and incidence of violence in the family all appear to bear on the risk of experiencing a family abduction event. Further, recency of divorce or separation appears to be associated with the risk for more serious or alarming cases of family abduction.

Risk Factors for Family Abduction: Demographic and Family Interaction Characteristics

Though peer victimization has received more attention than sibling victimization, they both have negative associations with mental health and may share common family origins. We explore whether there are common family characteristics (family climate, interparental conflict, parenting) in the prediction of sibling and peer victimization. We employ a nationally representative sample of U.S. children ages 5-17 (N = 2,659; 51% male, mean age = 10.60 years, 58% White). A telephone interview was conducted with a parent of children ages 5-9 and with children ages 10-17. Multinomial logistic regression showed that sibling and peer victimization are both associated with exposure to family adversity, family violence, and child maltreatment. Sibling victimization is also associated with inconsistent or harsh parenting. The odds ratios of the family characteristics of interest did not differ for sibling versus peer victimization, suggesting overlap in the family etiology of sibling and peer victimization. However, in this study, sibling victimization does appear to have unique associations to demographic characteristics; sibling victimization is most common in White and educated families. Knowledge of shared familial elements of sibling and peer victimization could benefit family violence and antibullying programs to promote positive interactions and lessen and stop aggression in both sibling and peer relationships. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

David Finkelhor

Papers

Receipt of Behavioral Health Services Among US Children and Youth With Adverse Childhood Experiences or Mental Health Symptoms

Patterns of sibling victimization as predictors of peer victimization in childhood and adolescence

Child Sexual Abuse : Challenges Facing Child Protection and Mental Health Professionals

Risk Factors for Family Abduction: Demographic and Family Interaction Characteristics

Family predictors of sibling versus peer victimization.