In recent years, sexual assault cases have been on the rise, seriously infringing the legitimate rights and interests of women and children, causing widespread concern in society. DNA evidence has become the key evidence to prove the facts in sexual assault cases, but lack of DNA evidence or only DNA evidence in some sexual assault cases leads to unclear facts and insufficient evidence. With the emergence of high-throughput sequencing technology and the development of bioinformatics and artificial intelligence, new progress has been made in the study of human microbiome. Researchers have begun to use human microbiome for difficult sexual assault cases indentification. This paper reviews the characteristics of human microbiome, and its application value in the inferences of the body fluid stain origin, the sexual assault method, the crime time, etc. In addition, the challenges faced by the application of the human microbiome in practical case handling, the solutions and future development potential are analyzed and prospected.
Child ; Humans ; Female ; Artificial Intelligence ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Sex Offenses ; DNA ; Microbiota ; Crime Victims

BACKGROUND: Dating violence refers to violence occurring between people in an intimate relationship. Forms of dating violence are often categorized into physical, psychological, and sexual violence, and most existing literature has followed this frame. However, few studies have focused on the phenomenon of living under the perpetrator's coercive control in victims of dating violence, although those experiences are known to be signs of severe forms of violence later on. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of being coercively controlled in female victims who had experienced dating violence. METHODS: For this study, in-depth interviews were conducted with a total of 14 female victims, and all interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. The data were analyzed using the phenomenological analysis method suggested by Colaizzi. RESULTS: Three themes were derived in chronological order: idealizing the relationship (period of potential control), facing severer tyranny (period of coercive control), and escaping from the unending trap (period of post-control). The results showed that the victims experienced perpetrators' control with specific patterns. The perpetrators' controlling behaviors were invisible, literally benevolent, at the beginning; however, severe forms of violence seemed to appear as their relationship deepened and the perpetrators failed to control the victims. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study presented vivid experiences of female victims who needed help and care. Hopefully, the results can benefit in terms of developing evidence-based prevention strategies for victims as well as assessing the risks of severe forms of dating violence, such as physical attack or murder.
Crime Victims ; Female ; Homicide ; Humans ; Intimate Partner Violence ; Methods ; Physical Abuse ; Qualitative Research ; Sex Offenses ; United Nations ; Violence

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The abdominal pain-related functional gastrointestinal disorders (AP-FGIDs) affect a significant proportion of the pediatric population and consist 1 of the most frequent causes for seeking medical advice. In this study, we aimed to assess the relation of dietary habits with the likelihood of AP-FGIDs. METHODS: This was a school-based, cross-sectional study approved by the Greek Government authorities, after obtaining informed consent by the legal representatives of the children. Diagnoses of AP-FGIDs were based on the Greek official translation of the Rome III questionnaire. Demographic, socioeconomic and dietary data were collected through self-reporting or parent-reporting questionnaires. Associations between the probability of AP-FGIDs and dietary practices were assessed after adjusting for known confounders through a multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1365 children (147 AP-FGIDs and 1218 controls, 52.4% females, mean age: 12.8 ± 2.8 years) were included. Multiple regression analysis identified the following statistically significant confounders: victimization, the presence of a person with a severe health problem at home, female sex, engaging in limited physical exercise, and living in a single adult family. Subsequently, logistic regression, adjusted for the abovementioned confounders, showed that reduced fish and increased junk food consumption were related to a higher likelihood of AP-FGIDs. CONCLUSIONS: Children with AP-FGIDs report excessive junk-food and reduced fish intake compared to controls. Further studies are needed in order to clarify the nature of this observation.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Crime Victims ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diagnosis ; Exercise ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Food Habits ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Logistic Models

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the association between childhood bullying and adulthood mental disorders based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) criteria. We investigated the association of childhood peer bullying with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV) psychiatric disorders and suicidality in adults. METHODS: A total of 5,102 respondents aged 18 or over completed the Korean version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview for DSM-IV psychiatric disorders and a questionnaire for suicidal ideas, plans, and attempts. We evaluated peer bullying using an item in the Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify the association between victimization of peer bullying, adult psychiatric disorders, and suicidality. RESULTS: Around 8.8% of the general population in Korea reported the experience of being bullied when growing up. Bullying experience was associated with an increase in the adulthood prevalence of nicotine use disorders (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.75–3.49), alcohol use disorders (aOR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.49–2.51), mood disorders (aOR, 4.23; 95% CI, 3.01–5.94), and anxiety disorders (aOR, 2.89; 95% CI, 1.89–4.43) after adjusting for sociodemographic variables. Among anxiety disorders, the OR for post-traumatic stress disorder (aOR, 9.95; 95% CI, 5.62–17.63) was notably high. Frequent victimization (many times) was significantly associated with suicidality even after adjusting for sociodemographic variables and lifetime prevalence of psychiatric disorders, whereas occasional victimization (once or a few times) was not. CONCLUSION: Childhood bullying experience was associated with adult psychiatric disorders and suicidality. The findings indicated the importance of the early detection and management of childhood peer bullying to reduce detrimental adulthood consequences.
Adult ; Anxiety Disorders ; Bullying ; Crime Victims ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Mental Disorders ; Mood Disorders ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; Suicide ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tobacco Use Disorder

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare differences in perception and knowledge of child abuse and child disciplinary practices according to the history of child abuse victimization. METHODS: A questionnaire survey on child abuse was conducted with 491 adults raising children. We compared the perception and knowledge of child abuse and child disciplinary practices between two groups of adults with and without a history of childhood abuse victimization. RESULTS: The group with a history of childhood abuse had lower levels of knowledge of child abuse (F=6.990, p<0.01) and engaged in more negative disciplinary practices (F=5.974, p<0.05) than those without. However, no differences in the perception of child abuse were observed between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that adults with a history of childhood abuse have lower levels of knowledge of child abuse and use more negative disciplinary practices in raising their children. This highlights the need to administer not only educational but also more direct hands-on interventions to vulnerable parents in order to foster healthy parenting and disciplinary practices.
Adult ; Child ; Child Abuse ; Child ; Crime Victims ; Humans ; Parenting ; Parents

BACKGROUND: School bullying is considered the most common type of bullying, and bullying related to stressful relationships is a significant risk factor for college students' depression and suicide. However, bullying is often overlooked in college students. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of peer victimization in Korean college students and identified factors associated with bullying victimization.METHODS: From the Jeju area, 941 college students were included in this study. The students were divided into two groups according to whether they had experienced bullying. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, including depression (Beck Depression Inventory) and health-related conditions, were compared between groups.RESULTS: In total, 82 students (8.7%) reported being bullied by other students. Factors associated with bullying were low socioeconomic status (odds ratio [OR], 2.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10–3.64), obesity (OR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.13–4.29), body dissatisfaction (OR, 3.92; 95% CI, 2.36–6.50), and depression (OR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.53–3.85).CONCLUSION: Our findings might have important implications for development of strategies and interventions to prevent bullying among college students.
Bullying ; Crime Victims ; Depression ; Humans ; Obesity ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Social Class ; Suicide

Depression is one of the most prevalent mental health problems of adolescence. A number of studies have identifiedan association between bullying and depression in adolescence. Prospective studies have suggested that bullying victimization may be a risk factor for adolescent depression, and depression may predispose adolescents to bullying. The consequences of bullying may extend well into adulthood, and experiencing bullying victimization is related to a higher risk of recurrent adulthood depression. Whatever the direction of causality, the associations between bullying and depression offer opportunities for early intervention and prevention.
Adolescent ; Bullying ; Crime Victims ; Depression ; Early Intervention (Education) ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

The association of sexual victimization with self-esteem, depression, and problematic internet use was examined in Korean adolescents. A total of 695 middle and high school students were recruited (413 boys, 282 girls, mean age, 14.06±1.37 years). The participants were administered the Early Trauma Inventory Self Report-Short Form (ETISR-SF), Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), and Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT). The associations between sexual abuse and the level of self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and problematic internet use were analyzed. Adolescents who had experienced sexual abuse showed lower self-esteem, more depressive symptoms, and greater problematic internet use compared with adolescents who had not experienced sexual abuse. In the path model, sexual abuse predicted lower self-esteem (β=−0.11; 95% CI=−0.20, −0.04; p=0.009), which predicted higher depressive symptoms (β=−0.34; 95% CI=−0.40, −0.27; p=0.008). Depressive symptoms predicted problematic internet use in a positive way (β=0.23; 95% CI=0.16–0.29; p=0.013). Sexual abuse also predicted problematic internet use directly (β=0.20; 95% CI=0.12–0.27; p=0.012). The results of the present study indicate that sexually abused adolescents had a higher risk of depression and problematic internet use. For sexually abused adolescents, programs aimed at raising self-esteem and preventing internet addiction, as well as mental health screening, are needed.
Adolescent* ; Crime Victims ; Depression* ; Female ; Humans ; Internet* ; Mass Screening ; Mental Health ; Sex Offenses*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to clarify attributes, antecedents, and consequences of female sexual subjectivity. METHODS: Walker and Avant's concept analysis process was used to analyze 27 studies from the current literature that relates to female sexual subjectivity. A systematic literature review of women's study in sociology, psychology, theology, law, health science, and nursing was reviewed. RESULTS: The defining attributes of female sexual subjectivity were sexual self-awareness, sexual decision making, sexual desire, and good sexual communication with partner. The antecedents of female sexual subjectivity were social environment, sexual education, sexual experience, and interpersonal relationship. The consequences of female sexual subjectivity were safe sex, prevention of sexual victimization, and sexual satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Female sexual subjectivity is defined as sexual self-awareness, sexual decision making, sexual desire to seek sexual pleasure and safety, and effective communication with partner in terms of sexual behavior, sexual experience and sexual health. Based on these results, a scale measuring female sexual subjectivity is needed.
Crime Victims ; Decision Making ; Education ; Female* ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Methods* ; Nursing ; Orgasm ; Pleasure ; Psychology ; Reproductive Health ; Safe Sex ; Sexual Behavior ; Social Environment ; Sociology ; Theology ; Walkers*

More than half of all sexual assault victims report experiencing sexual victimization more than once. The aim of this paper was to determine the role post-traumatic cognition plays in the relationship between a history of sexual abuse and post-traumatic stress symptoms in sexual assault victims. The relationship between a history of sexual assault and the severity of post-traumatic stress symptoms was investigated retrospectively using data from a sexual assault crisis center in Korea. Data on psychological symptoms were collected in person at the initial assessment and by telephone 1 month later using the Post-traumatic Cognitions Inventory and the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Scale: Self-report Version. Of 105 women included in the analysis, 10 (9.5%) reported prior sexual abuse and were classified as sexually revictimized. Revictimized women had more post-traumatic negative cognition at initial assessment (t = −2.98; P = 0.004) and more post-traumatic symptoms at 1 month follow-up (t = −2.39; P = 0.019) than singly victimized women. At 1 month follow-up, the severity of post-traumatic stress symptoms had increased in revictimized women but had decreased slightly in singly victimized women. Negative post-traumatic cognition fully mediated the association between a history of sexual abuse and the severity of post-traumatic stress symptoms. Early detection of sexually revictimized women and tailored service and treatment intervention is needed to better serve this group of victims. Interventions targeted at preventing revictimization or post crime victimization may also help victims recover from the trauma and prevent future abuse.
Cognition* ; Crime Victims ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Offenses* ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; Telephone