PAIS: Polyvictimization among Mexican Adolescents

Youth under the age of 18 who experience one form of violence are typically at risk for experiencing other forms of victimization or being poly-victimized. Poly-victimization has profound mental health outcomes on adolescents (Wolfe, 2018).

The PAIS Study (Mexican Bienestar: Polyvictimization among Mexican Adolescents Interview Study) seeks to develop a rich, in-depth understanding of Mexican adolescents’ experiences with various forms of violence (psychological abuse, bullying, community violence, and sexual street harassment).

This study explores adolescents’ coping mechanisms and identifies other forms of support in the face of violence (i.e., parent-adolescent communication, peer support, teacher support, religiosity/spirituality).

Specifically, 69 adolescents living in an urban setting in Michoacan, Mexico participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Qualitative analysis from this study is ongoing.

This study is funded by the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Small Grant for Early Career Scholars awarded to Dr. Andrea Medrano.