Polivictimización y su relación con las conductas autoagresivas y con la depresión en adolescentes

Introduction: The accumulation of experiences of abuse or violence during childhood has been nominated as a polyvictimization. It has been documented that the polyvictimización generates negative consequences in the mental health of the people. In Chile there is not enough research on this phenomenon, only there is known that it is prevalent. The objective of the study is to evaluate the frequency of polyvictimization in the adolescents and its relation with the levels of depressive symptomatology and with the frequency of self-injurious behaviors. Method: This is a descriptive correlational study. We survey 114 adolescents between 17 and 18 years of age. Results: It was observed that 40.3% of the sample had suffered at least 2 different types of victimization and that polyvictimization is associated with depressive symptoms and with the frequency of self-harm. Conclusion: It is concluded that mental health professionals should evaluate the possibility that the mental health problems of their specific patients may be related to experiences of child and adolescent victimization, which should be considered in the treatments.