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Si us plau utilitzeu sempre aquest identificador per citar o enllaçar aquest document: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/212060
Exploring violence and vulnerability: Experiences of victimization among adults with intellectual disabilities
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[eng] People with intellectual disabilities (ID) seem to be at an increased risk of experiencing interpersonal victimization, especially for the most violent types, such as physical and sexual aggression. However, figure disparities across studies contribute to an inconclusive portrayal of the phenomenon. Still, they are often considered a vulnerable group towards victimization simply because of their disability, without considering other risk factors that may have a significant impact on the course of victimization. This dissertation aims to contribute to the knowledge and understanding of vulnerability and victimization among people with ID. It consists of three empirical studies analyzing the self-reported experiences of victimization in a sample of adults with ID and a narrative review analyzing different layers and intersecting vulnerabilities to victimization and offending. The study sample for the empirical studies consisted of 260 participants (154 men and 106 women) with ages ranging from 20–71 (M = 41.69, SD = 12.05) and a diagnostic of ID. Study 1 explores the rates of different forms of lifetime victimization and polyvictimization using the JVQ questionnaire and introduces a gender and age-related approach. The results showed high rates of lifetime victimization, with nearly all participants reporting some victimization experience (96.9%). Conventional crimes, including some forms of property crime, was the most frequent type of victimization among this sample (87.7%). High rates of physical and sexual violence were also reported. If the mean number of different victimization types experienced for the whole sample was six, poly-victims experienced more than double victimizations (13 or more incidents). Overall, women and early adults tended to experience higher rates of victimization in comparison with men and older adults. Study 2 examines the rates and characteristics of sexual victimization experiences among the sample. The results showed that 35% of the participants had been sexually victimized at some point in their lives, with fondling being the most reported victimization (19.2%). Rape showed the greatest gender differences, with a higher risk for women of being raped compared to their men counterparts (OR = 4.28, p < .001). Being a woman, being declared legally incapable, and having comorbid mental health diagnoses were the most relevant characteristics of sexual victims with ID. The offender was generally a known adult man, and the percentage of incidents reported to the authorities was low (7.4%). The abuse led to negative psychological consequences for the victims. Study 3 explores the rates and characteristics of caregiver victimization, a disabilityrelated abuse particularly relevant for people with ID. This study outlines high rates of lifetime caregiver victimization (59.2%), with physical abuse, verbal abuse, and neglect being the most frequently reported forms. Those who live in residential care settings were at particular risk, experiencing significantly more victimization incidents and a broader range of victimization forms than their counterparts outside residential care. Most participants disclosed their victimization to someone, but only a small number reported it to the police (9.8%). The experiences of victimization led to adverse psychological consequences and, in some cases, physical harm (33.8%). Study 4 is a critical and historical narrative review exploring the complexity of the acts of violence involving women with ID. They face multiple adversities, being involved in the phenomenon of violence both as victims and as perpetrators. These two roles are not mutually exclusive, but the interrelation between statuses owes its variability and dynamics to other interacting variables. This study synthesizes different layers of analysis (i.e., ID label, vulnerability, mental health comorbidity, poverty, social deprivation, ethnicity, and race) using an intersecting approach, which has been particularly neglected in disability studies. This thesis revealed high self-reported victimization rates among people with ID when a lifetime assessment was conducted. Significant gender, residential, age, and disability-related differences concerning the rates and numbers of victimization experienced were identified. This helps to identify those ID profiles requiring special protection given their increased vulnerability.
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CODINA COBO, Marta. Exploring violence and vulnerability: Experiences of victimization among adults with intellectual disabilities. [consulta: 29 de novembre de 2025]. [Disponible a: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/212060]