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COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Correlates of sexual harassment victimization among adolescents: A scoping review

Marie-Louise Bolduc

Marie-Louise Bolduc

Group for Research and Intervention on Children's Social Adjustment (GRISE), Département de Psychoéducation, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada

The Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Intimate Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse (CRIPCAS), Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada

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Alexa Martin-Storey

Corresponding Author

Alexa Martin-Storey

Group for Research and Intervention on Children's Social Adjustment (GRISE), Département de Psychoéducation, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada

The Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Intimate Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse (CRIPCAS), Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada

Canada Research Chair in Stigmatization and Psychosocial Development, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada

Correspondence

Alexa Martin-Storey, PhD, Group for Research and Intervention on Children's Social Adjustment (GRISE), Département de Psychoéducation, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boul. de l'Université, Sherbrooke, J1K 2R1, Québec, Canada.

Email: [email protected]

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Geneviève Paquette

Geneviève Paquette

Group for Research and Intervention on Children's Social Adjustment (GRISE), Département de Psychoéducation, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada

The Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Intimate Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse (CRIPCAS), Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada

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First published: 19 July 2022
Citations: 3

Abstract

Sexual harassment (SH) is an important public health problem among adolescents and is associated with negative outcomes. Using a theory-based, developmentally-informed approach, this scoping review focuses on SH victimization among adolescents (number of studies included = 20) and aims to (1) examine how the extant literature on correlates of SH defined and measured SH, and (2) identify correlates associated with SH victimization among adolescents, focusing particularly on differences between boys and girls. For the first objective, results showed variations in the definition of SH used, with very few studies employing validated measures of SH. For the second objective, the most frequently examined and supported correlates were those stemming from transactional models. Important gender differences in correlates emerged between boys and girls. Among girls' previous victimization experiences emerged as the most consistent correlates of SH, while among boys, adherence to gender role norms and beliefs and higher perception of personal power were most consistently associated with higher SH victimization. Prevention of SH needs to include youth, teachers, and parents as the results show the influence of all these social contexts in SH victimization. These prevention efforts should target groups at higher risk of SH, such as sexual and gender minority youth.