Abstract

POSADA VILLA, José A. PROTECTIVE AND VULNERABILITY FACTORS OF ILL-TREATMENT IN COLOMBIAN YOUNGSTERS. rev.colomb.psiquiatr. [online]. 1999, vol.28, n.1, pp.9-24. ISSN 0034-7450.

Objetives: To investigate protective and vulnerability factors of ill-treatment in colombian youngsters. Design: a national survey with descriptive analysis covering large, medium-sized and small towns, and rural areas. Sample: 800 youngsters, from 11 to 17 years of age (june 1998). Sample distribution: large cities 30%; medium size 25%; small towns 30%; rural areas 15%. Instrument: an internationally acknowledged indicators form, studying protective and vulnerability factors, both internal and external. Questionnaire applier as a structurer eye witness interview. Results: protective factors offer an insufficient (average low) protection to a fifth of the youngsters. External factors provide less protection than infernal ones. Comparing the three categories considerate among the external factors, emotional resilience, citizenship and social structure, the latter gives less protection. The more important external vulnerability factors are: 1) social structure and 2) emotional resilience. Conclusions: external protection is weak as a result of living in an insecure environment, lack-of supportive political infrastructure, and because ours is not a peace time. External vulnerability is high due to current value systems. Effects of poverty, negative physical environment, experience of separation and loss, and psychoactive substance consumption.

Keywords : Ill-treatment; youngster; protective factors; vulnerability factors; resilience; citizenship; social structures.

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