Citation

Musicaro RM, Spinazzola J, Arvidson J, Swaroop SR, Goldblatt Grace L, Yarrow A, Suvak MK, Ford JD. Trauma Violence Abuse 2019; 20(1): 81-98.

Affiliation

University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1524838017692365

PMID

29333968

Abstract

Exposure to violence is pervasive in our society. An abundance of research has demonstrated that individuals who experience polyvictimization (PV)-prolonged or multiple forms of traumatic victimizations-are at heightened risk for continuing to experience repeated victimizations throughout their lifetimes. The current article reviews several overlapping constructs of traumatic victimizations with the ultimate goal of providing a unifying framework for conceptualizing prolonged and multiple victimization (defined in this article as PV) as a precursor to complex post-traumatic biopsychosocial adaptations, revictimization, and in some instances reenactment as a perpetrator (defined as complex trauma [CT]). This model is then applied to three socially disadvantaged victim populations-lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning; commercially sexually exploited individuals; and urban communities of color-who are at heightened risk for PV and for exhibiting complex clinical presentations to demonstrate how the PV-CT framework can destigmatize, reframe, and ultimately reduce health disparities experienced by these populations. Trauma-informed recommendations are provided to aid researchers and multidisciplinary providers working to reduce harm and improve the quality of life for polyvictims.

Language: en

Keywords

GLBT; community violence; prostitution/sex work; violence exposure; youth violence