Prevalence and Correlates of the Family Polyvictimization: An Updated Meta-Analysis.
Ko Ling Chan, Qiqi Chen
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This updated meta-analysis synthesized research on the prevalence and correlates of family polyvictimization, defined in the abstract through co-occurring types of family victimization. It included 49 studies with 51 estimates published from May 2018 onward, and combined these with a previous meta-analysis for an overall synthesis of 89 estimates. The event rate was 27.0% among the new estimates and 23.1% across the combined estimates, compared with 18.3% in the previous meta-analysis. Co-occurrence was more prevalent in clinical samples than in the general population, with higher rates also reported in studies from Africa and South America.
Key findings
- The 51 new estimates yielded a family polyvictimization event rate of 27.0%.
- Across 89 estimates combining the updated and previous meta-analyses, the overall event rate was 23.1%, versus 18.3% in the previous meta-analysis.
- Family victimization co-occurrence was more prevalent in clinical samples than in the general population.
- Studies from Africa and South America consistently reported higher polyvictimization rates.
Why it matters
The findings indicate that family victimization may involve multiple people or forms of harm, particularly in clinical samples. Recognising this co-occurrence can inform assessment and research approaches, while the reported variation across settings and regions cautions against assuming a single prevalence estimate applies uniformly.