Impact of Childhood Poly-victimization on Impulsivity and Behavioral Problems in Iranian Adults: A Regression Analysis

Background: Traumatic childhood experiences significantly impact mental health, with "poly-victimization" involving multiple victimization types as a chronic issue. Understanding its prevalence and effects is crucial for targeted intervention and support strategies. Emerging evidence suggests that impulsivity, especially cognitive and motor impulsivity, may predict the likelihood of childhood poly-victimization, warranting further investigation. Objectives: The present study aims to estimate the prevalence of poly-victimization among Iranian adults and to examine whether particular dimensions of impulsivity serve as predictors of childhood poly-victimization within this population. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from July to September 2023, with the goal of recruiting volunteers aged 18 to 45 through social media invitations. To uphold ethical standards, the data collection took place entirely online across platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, ResearchGate, WhatsApp, and Telegram during that period. The study involved 573 Iranian adults – 186 men, 417 women, and 10 individuals who did not disclose their gender. A post-hoc analysis with G*Power showed that 573 participants provide excellent power (1-β > 0.999), ensuring reliable detection of effects in the regression analyses. Participants completed the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ) to share their experiences of victimization, as well as the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) to assess impulsivity levels. Everyone finished the surveys in full, with no exclusions, leading to a response and completion rate of 62%. To address potential confounding factors, we employed several strategies in our statistical analyses. Descriptive statistics provided a clear overview of the data, while ANOVA tested differences across groups based on socioeconomic status (SES) and sexual orientation, categorizing variables to facilitate these comparisons. For regression analyses, we included only impulsivity dimensions that showed significant correlations (P < 0.05) with victimization, which helped focus on the most relevant predictors. This approach helped control for confounding influences by accounting for key demographic and personality variables that could affect victimization outcomes. All analyses were conducted using SPSS and AMOS 26, ensuring robust and reliable findings. Results: Findings revealed that 72.8% of participants were female, with an average age of 24. The mean victimization score was 11.95, with over 80% experiencing high poly-victimization (7+ incidents). The SES significantly impacted victimization; those from low and middle-low SES backgrounds reported higher rates, particularly in crime, maltreatment, and peer violence. While males and females experienced similar victimization levels, higher parental education and stable employment correlated with lower victimization risk. Sexual minority groups, especially transgender and bisexual individuals, reported notably higher sexual and overall victimization. The validated JVQ demonstrated high reliability, with some participants reporting up to 34 incidents. Victimization subtypes were more prevalent among lower SES groups, with sexual orientation-based victimization elevated among sexual minorities. Regression analysis indicated that each unit increase in cognitive and motor impulsivity increased the odds of severe victimization by approximately 6.5%, whereas non-planning impulsivity was not predictive. Overall, socioeconomic and personality factors are critical in childhood victimization, highlighting the need for targeted interventions for vulnerable populations. Conclusions: Results offer valuable insights for policymakers and healthcare providers in creating effective intervention programs to address poly-victimization. Policymakers can leverage these insights to formulate evidence-based policies that strengthen protections for at-risk groups, while clinicians can adopt specific approaches for early detection and timely intervention. Nonetheless, it’s important to acknowledge the study’s limitations. Recognizing that non-randomized sampling could limit the generalizability of the findings, efforts were made to diversify outreach by strategically distributing survey links across multiple social media platforms to reach a broader demographic. To mitigate biases related to self-reported data, participants were assured of anonymity and confidentiality, encouraging honest responses. Additionally, clear and standardized instructions were provided to all participants to reduce misunderstandings and measurement bias.