Mid-adolescent victims: (Un)willing for help?

Abstract

A victimization experience may turn the world of a victim upside down. In the aftermath of the victimization incident, the reactions and help from others may have important effects on the recovery of the victim. The way victims experience and interpret their victimization and how they cope with it can be influenced by the reactions of others. However, before another person can help the victim, or before another person can make the victimization experience even worse due to his or her reaction to the victim, the victim has to tell this person about the victimization experience. This article focuses on the persons and agencies mid-adolescents turn to on becoming a victim. Based on a paper-and-pencil school survey in Ghent, Belgium among 557 14–16-year-old pupils, this study shows that mid-adolescent victims of theft, violence and extortion turn in the first instance to parents and peers. Concerning formal agencies, the results indicate that mid-adolescents are barely aware of the existence of assistance services and that they report victimization to the police only to a small degree.

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