Associations between mental distress, poly-victimization, and gender attitudes among adolescent girls in Cambodia and Haiti: An analysis of Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys

Using cross-sectional nationally representative household survey data from Cambodia and Haiti, this study aims to explore the effects of poly-victimization (defined as the experience of multiple different forms of violence, including physical, emotional, and/or sexual) and gender attitudes on mental distress and suicidal ideation among adolescent girls.

Data used was from adolescent girls aged 13 to 19-years from the 2013 Cambodia and 2012 Haiti Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys, respectively. The results suggest that poly-victimization is associated with severe mental distress and suicidal ideation among adolescent girls in both countries. Gender attitudes can serve as either a risk or protective factor.