%0 Journal Article %@ 1438-8871 %I JMIR Publications %V 27 %N %P e52043 %T Parental Mental Health and Child Maltreatment in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Importance of Sampling in a Quantitative Statistical Study %A Engelke,Lara %A Calvano,Claudia %A Pohl,Steffi %A Winter,Sibylle Maria %A Renneberg,Babette %+ Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Habelschwerdter Allee 45, Berlin, 14195, Germany, 49 30 838 76522, engelke.l@fu-berlin.de %K COVID-19 %K parental stress %K parental mental health %K child maltreatment %K data collection methods %K web-based surveys %K convenience sample %K sampling methods %D 2025 %7 24.1.2025 %9 Original Paper %J J Med Internet Res %G English %X Background: Results on parental burden during the COVID-19 pandemic are predominantly available from nonrepresentative samples. Although sample selection can significantly influence results, the effects of sampling strategies have been largely underexplored. Objective: This study aimed to investigate how sampling strategy may impact study results. Specifically, we aimed to (1) investigate if outcomes on parental health and child maltreatment during the COVID-19 pandemic from a convenience sample differ from those of a specific representative sample and (2) investigate reasons for differences in the results. Methods: In 2020, we simultaneously conducted 2 studies: (1) a web-based survey using a convenience sample of 4967 parents of underage children, primarily recruited via social media, and (2) a study using a quota sample representative of the German adult population with underage children (N=1024), recruited through a combination of telephone interviews and computer-assisted web interviews. In both studies, the same questionnaire was used. To evaluate the impact of sampling, we compared the results on outcomes (parental stress, subjective health, parental mental health, general stress, pandemic-related stress, and the occurrence of child maltreatment) between the 2 samples. To explain differences in the results between the 2 studies, we controlled for sociodemographic data, parent-related risk factors, and COVID-19–related experiences. Results: Compared to parents from the quota sample, parents from the convenience sample reported significantly more parental stress (η2=0.024); decreased subjective health (η2=0.016); more anxiety and depression symptoms (η2=0.055); more general stress (η2=0.044); more occurrences of verbal emotional abuse (VEA; φ=0.12), witnessing domestic violence (WDV; φ=0.13), nonverbal emotional abuse (NEA; φ=0.03), physical abuse (φ=0.10), and emotional neglect (φ=0.06); and an increase of child maltreatment (VEA: exp(B)=2.95; WDV: exp(B)=3.19; NEA: exp(B)=1.65). Sociodemographic data, parent-related risk factors, and COVID-19–related experiences explained the differences in parental stress (remaining difference between samples after controlling for covariates: η2=0.002) and subjective health (remaining difference between samples after controlling for covariates: η2=0.004) and partially explained differences in parental mental health (remaining: η2=0.016), general stress (remaining: η2=0.014), and child maltreatment (remaining: VEA: exp(B)=2.05 and WDV: exp(B)=2.02) between the 2 samples. The covariates could not explain the difference in NEA (exp(B)=1.70). We discuss further factors that may explain the unexplained differences. Conclusions: Results of studies can be heavily impacted by the sampling strategy. Scientists are advised to collect relevant explaining variables (covariates) that are possibly related to sample selection and the outcome under investigation. This approach enables us to identify the individuals to whom the results apply and to combine findings from different studies. Furthermore, if data on the distribution of these explanatory variables in the population are available, it becomes possible to adjust for sample selection bias. %M 39854726 %R 10.2196/52043 %U https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e52043 %U https://doi.org/10.2196/52043 %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39854726 %0 Journal Article %@ 1438-8871 %I JMIR Publications %V 26 %N %P e60530 %T Characteristics and Popularity of Videos of Abusive Head Trauma Prevention: Systematic Appraisal %A Goethals,Luc %A Prokofieva Nelson,Victoria %A Fenouillet,Fabien %A Chevreul,Karine %A Bergerat,Manon %A Lebreton,Christine %A Refes,Yacine %A Blangis,Flora %A Chalumeau,Martin %A Le Roux,Enora %+ Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research team (EPOPé), Centre of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS), Université Paris Cité, Inserm, 123 Bd de Port-Royal, Paris, 75014, France, 33 0699222119, luc.goethals@inserm.fr %K abusive head trauma %K child physical abuse %K shaken baby syndrome %K SBS %K primary prevention %K web-based videos %K digital tools %K head trauma %K prevention %K video %K internet %K infant %K mortality %K morbidity %K parent %K caregivers %K communication %D 2024 %7 10.12.2024 %9 Original Paper %J J Med Internet Res %G English %X Background: Numerous strategies for preventing abusive head trauma (AHT) have been proposed, but controlled studies failed to demonstrate their effectiveness. Digital tools may improve the effectiveness of AHT prevention strategies by reaching a large proportion of the adult population. Objective: This study aimed to describe the characteristics of videos of AHT prevention published on the internet, including their quality content, and to study their association with popularity. Methods: From a systematic appraisal performed in June 2023, we identified videos addressing the primary prevention of AHT in children younger than 2 years that were published in English or French on the internet by public organizations or mainstream associations. We analyzed the characteristics of the videos; their quality with the Global Quality Scale (GQS); and their association with an index of popularity, the Video Power Index, using multivariable quasi-Poisson modeling. Results: We included 53 (6.6%) of the 804 videos identified. Videos were mainly published by public organizations (43/53, 81%). The median time spent on the web was 6 (IQR 3-9) years, the median length was 202 (IQR 94-333) seconds, and the median GQS score was 4 (IQR 3-4). Infants were often depicted (42/53, 79%), including while crying (35/53, 66%) and being shaken (21/53, 40%). The characterization of shaking as an abuse and its legal consequences were cited in 47% (25/53) and 4% (2/53) of videos, respectively. The main prevention strategies in the videos were to raise awareness of the noxious outcome of shaking (49/53, 93%) and convince viewers of the effectiveness of coping strategies for infants’ cries (45/53, 85%). The Video Power Index was positively correlated with the GQS (r=0.38; P=.007) and was independently associated with depicting an infant being shaken (P=.03; β=1.74, 95% CI 1.06-2.85) and the use of text or headers (P=.04; β=2.15, 95% CI 1.08-4.26). Conclusions: AHT prevention videos had high quality but did not frequently deal with parental risk factors. The characteristics identified as being associated with the popularity of AHT prevention videos could help improve the impact of future prevention programs by enhancing their popularity. %M 39657172 %R 10.2196/60530 %U https://www.jmir.org/2024/1/e60530 %U https://doi.org/10.2196/60530 %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39657172 %0 Journal Article %@ 2561-6722 %I JMIR Publications %V 7 %N %P e58403 %T Digital Health Innovations for Screening and Mitigating Mental Health Impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences: Narrative Review %A White,Brianna M %A Prasad,Rameshwari %A Ammar,Nariman %A Yaun,Jason A %A Shaban-Nejad,Arash %K digital health %K digital technology %K digital intervention %K digital health technology %K artificial intelligence %K machine learning %K adverse childhood experience %K ACE %K positive childhood experiences %K children’s mental health %K mental health %K mental illness %K mental disorder %K pediatric mental health %K disease surveillance %D 2024 %7 16.10.2024 %9 %J JMIR Pediatr Parent %G English %X Background: Exposures to both negative and positive experiences in childhood have proven to influence cardiovascular, immune, metabolic, and neurologic function throughout an individual’s life. As such, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) could have severe consequences on health and well-being into adulthood. Objective: This study presents a narrative review of the use of digital health technologies (DHTs) and artificial intelligence to screen and mitigate risks and mental health consequences associated with ACEs among children and youth. Methods: Several databases were searched for studies published from August 2017 to August 2022. Selected studies (1) explored the relationship between digital health interventions and mitigation of negative health outcomes associated with mental health in childhood and adolescence and (2) examined prevention of ACE occurrence associated with mental illness in childhood and adolescence. A total of 18 search papers were selected, according to our inclusion and exclusion criteria, to evaluate and identify means by which existing digital solutions may be useful in mitigating the mental health consequences associated with the occurrence of ACEs in childhood and adolescence and preventing ACE occurrence due to mental health consequences. We also highlighted a few knowledge gaps or barriers to DHT implementation and usability. Results: Findings from the search suggest that the incorporation of DHTs, if implemented successfully, has the potential to improve the quality of related care provisions for the management of mental health consequences of adverse or traumatic events in childhood, including posttraumatic stress disorder, suicidal behavior or ideation, anxiety or depression, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Conclusions: The use of DHTs, machine learning tools, natural learning processing, and artificial intelligence can positively help in mitigating ACEs and associated risk factors. Under proper legal regulations, security, privacy, and confidentiality assurances, digital technologies could also assist in promoting positive childhood experiences in children and young adults, bolstering resilience, and providing reliable public health resources to serve populations in need. %R 10.2196/58403 %U https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2024/1/e58403 %U https://doi.org/10.2196/58403 %0 Journal Article %@ 1929-0748 %I JMIR Publications %V 13 %N %P e56249 %T School Violence Exposure as an Adverse Childhood Experience: Protocol for a Nationwide Study of Secondary Public Schools %A Rajan,Sonali %A Buttar,Navjot %A Ladhani,Zahra %A Caruso,Jennifer %A Allegrante,John P. %A Branas,Charles %+ Department of Health Studies & Applied Educational Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University, 525 West 120th Street, Box 114, New York, NY, 10027, United States, 1 2126783458, sr2345@tc.columbia.edu %K adolescents %K adverse childhood experiences %K gun violence %K health outcomes %K injury prevention %K school violence %D 2024 %7 28.8.2024 %9 Protocol %J JMIR Res Protoc %G English %X Background: Poor mental health and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) predict extensive adverse outcomes in youth, including increases in long-term risk for chronic disease and injury, impaired emotional development, and poor academic outcomes. Exposure to school violence, specifically intentional gun violence, is an increasingly prevalent ACE. The anticipation of school shootings has led to the implementation of school safety and security interventions that may increase anxiety, depression, and other indicators of poor mental well-being among students and staff alike. Despite this, the association between exposure to existing school safety interventions and early adolescent student mental health outcomes, while accounting for one's history of ACEs, has not been previously investigated. Objective: The study protocol described here aims to determine whether there is a significant difference in the prevalence of mental health outcomes, perceived school safety, and academic engagement between adolescent students (grades 6-12) at schools who have experienced a school shooting and those who have not; whether existing interventions to promote school safety and security are associated with poor mental health outcomes among students and school staff; and what the strength of the association between school safety interventions and mental health outcomes among students and teachers is in schools that have experienced a school shooting versus schools that have never experienced a school shooting. Methods: This observational study will collect cross-sectional survey data from a nationwide sample of students, teachers, and principals at 12 secondary public schools across the United States. The participants come from 6 randomly selected exposure schools that have either experienced a recent (<2 years ago) intentional school shooting or have experienced an intentional school shooting less recently (>2 years ago). Data from these schools are being directly compared with 6 secondary schools that have never experienced a school shooting. Results: Institutional review board approval for this research project was obtained and the study subsequently began its recruitment and data collection phase in January 2024. Data collection is currently ongoing and the expected completion date is January 2025. The analytic plan is designed to determine if the strength of the association between school safety interventions and mental health outcomes differs among students and school staff in schools with varying levels of school violence exposure. Analyses will be used to evaluate the role of ACEs on the relationships among exposure to an intentional school shooting, exposure to school safety strategies, and student outcomes (ie, mental health and well-being, perceptions of school safety, and educational outcomes). Conclusions: The results from this study promise to generate meaningful and novel findings on the extent to which having a prior history of ACEs moderates the relationships among exposure to intentional school gun violence, school safety strategies, and student outcomes (ie, mental health and well-being, and perceptions of school safety). Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06153316; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06153316 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/56249 %M 39196631 %R 10.2196/56249 %U https://www.researchprotocols.org/2024/1/e56249 %U https://doi.org/10.2196/56249 %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39196631 %0 Journal Article %@ 2369-2960 %I JMIR Publications %V 9 %N %P e45891 %T Quantifying Adverse Childhood Experiences in Oklahoma With the Oklahoma Adversity Surveillance Index System (OASIS): Development and Cross-Sectional Study %A Beaman,Jason Walter %A Miner,Cherie Josephine %A Bolinger,Cadence %+ School of Forensic Sciences, Center for Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, 1111 W. 17th St., Tulsa, OK, 74107, United States, 1 918 561 1108, jason.beaman@okstate.edu %K statewide intervention %K adverse childhood experiences %K public health %K surveillance system %K trauma %K rural %K mental illness %K childhood trauma %K surveillance %K developmental trauma %K adult %D 2023 %7 22.8.2023 %9 Original Paper %J JMIR Public Health Surveill %G English %X Background: Developmental trauma depending on several factors may lead to later adult health risks and is an increasing public health concern, especially in states with predominantly rural populations. Oklahoma remains one of the states in America with the highest count of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs); therefore, more refined research methods for quantifying ACEs are vital for ensuring proper statewide interventions. Objective: While data sets already exist at the state level measuring specific ACEs like divorce or child abuse, the state currently lacks a single source for specific ACEs that can incorporate regions to allow for the identification of counties where ACEs are especially high. This county identification will allow for assessing trends in adversity prevalence over time to indicate where targeted interventions should be done and which counties experience amplified long-term consequences of high ACE rates. Thus, the model for the Oklahoma Adversity Surveillance Index System (OASIS) was born—a public health tool to map ACEs at the county level and grade them by severity over time. Methods: County-level data for 6 ACEs (mental illness, divorce, neglect, child abuse, domestic violence, and substance use) were collected from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Oklahoma State Department of Health, and Oklahoma Community Mental Health Centers for the years 2010 to 2018. First, a potential ACEs score (PAS) was created by standardizing and summing county rates for each ACE. To examine the temporal change in the PAS, a bivariate regression analysis was conducted. Additionally, an ACEs severity index (ASI) was created as a standardized measure of ACE severity across time. This included scoring counties based on severity for each ACE individually and summing the scores to generate an overall ASI for each county, capturing the severity of all ACEs included in the analysis. Results: Mental illness and substance use showed the highest rates at the state level. Results from the regression were significant (F1,76=5.269; P=.02), showing that county PAS showed an increase over years. The ASI scores ranged from 0 to 6, and 4 Oklahoma counties (Adair, McCurtain, Muskogee, and Pittsburg) received a score of 6. Conclusions: OASIS involves the identification of counties where ACEs are most prevalent, allowing for the prioritization of interventions in these “hot spot” counties. In addition, regression analysis showed that ACEs increased in Oklahoma from 2010 to 2018. Future efforts should center on adding additional ACEs to the ASI and correlating adverse outcome rates (such as violence and medical disorder prevalence) at the county level with high ASI scores. %M 37467063 %R 10.2196/45891 %U https://publichealth.jmir.org/2023/1/e45891 %U https://doi.org/10.2196/45891 %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37467063 %0 Journal Article %@ 2368-7959 %I JMIR Publications %V 10 %N %P e34147 %T Momentary Self-esteem as a Process Underlying the Association Between Childhood Trauma and Psychosis: Experience Sampling Study %A Daemen,Maud %A van Amelsvoort,Therese %A , %A Reininghaus,Ulrich %+ Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Vijverdalseweg 1, Maastricht, 6226 NB, Netherlands, 31 (0)43 38838, maud.daemen@maastrichtuniversity.nl %K psychosis %K self-esteem %K childhood trauma %K childhood adversity %K experience sampling method %K ecological momentary assessment %D 2023 %7 5.4.2023 %9 Original Paper %J JMIR Ment Health %G English %X Background: Exposure to childhood trauma is associated with an increased risk of developing and maintaining psychotic symptoms later in life. Self-esteem might be an important psychological process underlying the association between childhood trauma and psychosis, but there is only limited evidence to support this claim, especially in daily life. Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate whether exposure to childhood trauma (physical, emotional, and sexual abuse and physical and emotional neglect) moderates the cross-sectional and temporal associations between self-esteem and psychotic experiences in patients with psychotic disorders, their first-degree relatives, and controls. Methods: We assessed momentary self-esteem and psychotic experiences in daily life using the experience sampling method in 139 patients with psychotic disorders, 118 first-degree relatives of patients with psychotic disorders, and 111 controls. Childhood trauma was measured using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. We fitted linear mixed models and added two-way and three-way interaction terms to test the hypotheses. Results: The association between momentary self-esteem and psychotic experiences in daily life was modified by prior exposure to high versus low levels of several types of childhood trauma, that is, physical (χ22=24.9, family-wise error-corrected P<.001) and sexual abuse (χ22=15.9, P<.001) and physical neglect (χ22=116.7, P<.001). Specifically, momentary self-esteem was associated with more intense psychotic experiences in patients exposed to high versus low levels of physical neglect, in relatives exposed to high versus low levels of physical abuse, and in relatives and controls exposed to high versus low levels of sexual abuse. When investigating temporal order, the results showed no evidence that childhood trauma modified the temporal associations between self-esteem at tn-1 and psychotic experiences at tn or those between psychotic experiences at tn-1 and self-esteem at tn. Conclusions: The association between self-esteem and psychotic experiences in daily life was found to be stronger in those exposed to high versus low levels of several types of childhood trauma (ie, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and physical neglect). %M 37018034 %R 10.2196/34147 %U https://mental.jmir.org/2023/1/e34147 %U https://doi.org/10.2196/34147 %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37018034 %0 Journal Article %@ 2561-6722 %I JMIR Publications %V 5 %N 4 %P e35240 %T Associations Between Adolescent Problematic Internet Use and Relationship Problems in Chinese Families: Findings from a Large-scale Survey %A Hayixibayi,Alimila %A Strodl,Esben %A Chen,Wei-Qing %A Kelly,Adrian B %+ School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, 149 Victoria Park Road, Brisbane, 4059, Australia, 61 0478793214, alimila.hayixibayi@hdr.qut.edu.au %K problematic internet use %K parental bonding %K verbal conflict %K emotional abuse %K physical abuse %K adolescent %K teenager %K internet use %K internet usage %K abuse %K abusive %K conflict %K family %K parental bond %K student %K Asia %K China %K parent-child bond %K high school %K child %D 2022 %7 24.10.2022 %9 Original Paper %J JMIR Pediatr Parent %G English %X Background: Problematic internet use (PIU) is prevalent among Chinese adolescents. There is a need to better understand how the quality of parent-adolescent relationship is associated with adolescent PIU to guide the development of effective prevention and early intervention programs. Objective: This study aims to evaluate parent-adolescent conflict and parenting styles as potential risk factors associated with adolescent PIU. Methods: A sample of 6552 students (aged 10-19 years) from 22 schools in Guangdong, China, was recruited. The participants completed self-report questionnaires measuring their perceptions of conflict with their parents (involving verbal conflict, emotional abuse, and physical abuse) as well as their perceptions of their parents’ parenting styles (including parental care and parental control as measured by the Parental Bonding Inventory), and PIU using the Adolescent Pathological Internet Use Scale. Grade level and gender were examined as moderators of these associations. Results: Using multiple regression analyses, we found that greater mother-adolescent conflict, father-adolescent conflict, and parental control, and lower levels of parental care, were associated with higher levels of adolescent PIU (P<.001). The association between mother-adolescent conflict and PIU was stronger in older students than in younger students (P=.04), whereas the association between father-adolescent conflict and PIU was stronger in male students than in female students (P=.02). Compared with those who reported no mother-adolescent conflict, participants who experienced verbal conflict and emotional abuse, but not physical abuse from their mothers, reported higher levels of PIU (P<.001). Compared with those who reported no father-adolescent conflict, participants who experienced verbal conflict, emotional abuse, and physical abuse from their fathers had significantly higher levels of PIU (P<.001, P<.001, and P=.02, respectively). Conclusions: These findings point to the value of interventions to reduce parental verbal conflict, emotional abuse, and physical abuse, and to increase positive parenting styles, to lower the risk of PIU in Chinese adolescents. %M 36279160 %R 10.2196/35240 %U https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2022/4/e35240 %U https://doi.org/10.2196/35240 %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36279160 %0 Journal Article %@ 2291-9279 %I JMIR Publications %V 9 %N 4 %P e30350 %T Development and Validation of a Mobile Game for Culturally Sensitive Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Education in Tanzania: Mixed Methods Study %A Malamsha,Maria Proches %A Sauli,Elingarami %A Luhanga,Edith Talina %+ School of Computation and Communication Science and Engineering, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, PO Box 447, Nelson Mandela Rd, Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, 255 715261702, selestinapro@gmail.com %K child sexual abuse %K social cultural belief %K ecological setting %K prevention %K parents %K caretakers %K child experts %K mobile game %D 2021 %7 8.11.2021 %9 Original Paper %J JMIR Serious Games %G English %X Background: Globally, 3 out of 20 children experience sexual abuse before the age of 18 years. Educating children about sexual abuse and prevention is an evidence-based strategy that is recommended for ending child sexual abuse. Digital games are increasingly being used to influence healthy behaviors in children and could be an efficient and friendly approach to educating children about sexual abuse prevention. However, little is known on the best way to develop a culturally sensitive game that targets children in Africa—where sexual education is still taboo—that would be engaging, effective, and acceptable to parents and caretakers. Objective: This study aimed to develop a socioculturally appropriate, mobile-based game for educating young children (<5 years) and parents and caretakers in Tanzania on sexual abuse prevention. Methods:  HappyToto children’s game was co-designed with 111 parents and caretakers (females: n=58, 52.3%; male: n=53, 47.7%) of children below 18 years of age and 24 child experts in Tanzania through surveys and focus group discussions conducted from March 2020 to April 2020. From these, we derived an overview of topics, sociocultural practices, social environment, and game interface designs that should be considered when designing child sexual abuse prevention (CSAP) education interventions. We also conducted paper prototyping and storyboarding sessions for the game’s interface, storylines, and options. To validate the application’s prototype, 32 parents (females: n=18, 56%; males: n=14, 44%) of children aged 3-5 years and 5 children (females: n=2, 40%; males: n=3, 60%) of the same age group played the game for half an hour on average. The parents undertook a pre-post intervention assessment on confidence and ability to engage in CSAP education conversations, as well as exit surveys on the usability and sociocultural acceptability of the game, while children were quizzed on the topics covered and their enjoyment of the game. Results: Parents and caregivers showed interest in the developed game during the conducted surveys, and each parent on average navigated through all the parts of the game. The confidence level of parents in talking about CSAP increased from an average of 3.56 (neutral) before using the game to 4.9 (confident) after using the game. The ability scores, calculated based on a range of topics included in CSAP education talks with children, also increased from 5.67 (out of 10) to 8.8 (out of 10) after the game was played. Both confidence level and ability scores were statistically significant (P<.001). All 5 children were interested in the game and enjoyed the game-provided activities. Conclusions: The HappyToto game can thus be an effective technology-based intervention for improving the knowledge and skills of parents and children in CSAP education. %M 34747703 %R 10.2196/30350 %U https://games.jmir.org/2021/4/e30350 %U https://doi.org/10.2196/30350 %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34747703 %0 Journal Article %@ 2561-6722 %I JMIR Publications %V 4 %N 3 %P e27974 %T Internet Searches for Terms Related to Child Maltreatment During COVID-19: Infodemiology Approach %A Riem,Madelon M E %A De Carli,Pietro %A Guo,Jing %A Bakermans-Kranenburg,Marian J %A van IJzendoorn,Marinus H %A Lodder,Paul %+ Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Thomas van Aquinostraat 4, Nijmegen, Netherlands, 31 0243612142, m.riem@psych.ru.nl %K child %K maltreatment %K COVID-19 %K pandemic %K internet searches %K information-seeking %K internet %K abuse %K trend %K Google trends %K infodemiology %D 2021 %7 13.7.2021 %9 Viewpoint %J JMIR Pediatr Parent %G English %X We examined internet searches indicative of abusive parental behaviors before and after the World Health Organization’s declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic (March 11, 2020) and subsequent lockdown measures in many countries worldwide. Using Google Trends, we inferred search trends between December 28, 2018, and December 27, 2020, for queries consisting of “mother,” “father,” or “parents” combined with each of the 11 maltreatment-related verbs used in the Conflict Tactics Scales, Parent-Child version. Raw search counts from the Google Trends data were estimated using Comscore. Of all 33 search terms, 28 terms showed increases in counts after the lockdowns began. These findings indicate a strong increase in internet searches relating to occurrence, causes, or consequences of emotional and physical maltreatment since the lockdowns began and call for the use of maltreatment-related queries to direct parents or children to online information and support. %M 34174779 %R 10.2196/27974 %U https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2021/3/e27974 %U https://doi.org/10.2196/27974 %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34174779 %0 Journal Article %@ 2369-2960 %I JMIR Publications %V 6 %N 3 %P e19831 %T Digital or Digitally Delivered Responses to Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence During COVID-19 %A Emezue,Chuka %+ Sinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri-Columbia, S235 School of Nursing, Columbia, MO, 65211, United States, 1 573 999 2594, chukanestor@gmail.com %K COVID-19 %K pandemic %K mental health %K digital interventions %K technology %K coronavirus %K domestic violence %K prevention %K abuse %K intimate partner violence %D 2020 %7 30.7.2020 %9 Viewpoint %J JMIR Public Health Surveill %G English %X Before the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), 1 in 3 women and girls, globally, were victimized by an abusive partner in intimate relationships. However, the current pandemic has amplified cases of domestic violence (DV) against women and girls, with up to thrice the prevalence in DV cases compared to the same time last year. Evidence of the adverse effects of the pandemic on DV is still emerging, even as violence prevention strategies are iteratively being refined by service providers, advocacy agencies, and survivors to meet stay-at-home mandates. Emotional and material support for survivors is a critical resource increasingly delivered using digital and technology-based modalities, which offer several advantages and challenges. This paper rapidly describes current DV mitigation approaches using digital solutions, signaling emerging best practices to support survivors, their children, and abusers during stay-at-home advisories. Some examples of technology-based strategies and solutions are presented. An immediate priority is mapping out current digital solutions in response to COVID-19–related DV and outlining issues with uptake, coverage, and meaningful use of digital solutions. %M 32678797 %R 10.2196/19831 %U http://publichealth.jmir.org/2020/3/e19831/ %U https://doi.org/10.2196/19831 %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32678797 %0 Journal Article %@ 2291-5222 %I JMIR Publications %V 7 %N 3 %P e11306 %T Child Maltreatment Disclosure to a Text Messaging–Based Crisis Service: Content Analysis %A Schwab-Reese,Laura %A Kanuri,Nitya %A Cash,Scottye %+ Department of Health and Kinesiology, Purdue University, Lambert Fieldhouse 106B, 800 W Stadium Ave, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, United States, 1 7654966723, lschwabr@purdue.edu %K child maltreatment %K disclosure %K SMS %K text message %D 2019 %7 25.03.2019 %9 Original Paper %J JMIR Mhealth Uhealth %G English %X Background: Disclosure is a difficult but important process for victims of child maltreatment. There is limited research on child maltreatment disclosure. Young people have been reluctant to disclose victimization to adults, but short message service (SMS) crisis services may represent one novel method of engaging young people around sensitive topics. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine characteristics of child maltreatment disclosure to an SMS-based crisis service. Methods: We conducted a content analysis of all conversations (N=244) that resulted in a mandatory report by an SMS-based crisis service between October 2015 and July 2017. We coded characteristics of the disclosure process, including the reason for initial contact, phrase used to disclose abuse, perpetrator, type of abuse, and length of victimization. After identifying terms used by young people to disclose child abuse, we randomly selected and analyzed 50 conversations using those terms to determine if use of the terms differed between conversations that did and did not result in mandatory report. Results: Parents were the most common perpetrator. Physical abuse was the most common form of abuse discussed in the initial abuse disclosure (106/244, 43.4%), followed by psychological abuse (83/244, 34.0%), sexual abuse (38/244, 15.6%), and neglect (15/244, 6.1%). More than half of the texters discussed abuse or other significant family issues in the first message. An explicit description of the experience or definite language, such as abuse, rape, and molested, was common in disclosures. Conclusions: Early disclosure, combined with explicit language, may suggest at least a portion of young victims are actively seeking safe ways to talk about their experiences with abuse, rather than incidentally sharing experiences while seeking support for other issues. SMS text messaging may be a valuable way to engage with young people around sensitive topics, but these approaches will require careful consideration in their development, implementation, and evaluation to ensure a positive experience for young people. %M 30907745 %R 10.2196/11306 %U http://mhealth.jmir.org/2019/3/e11306/ %U https://doi.org/10.2196/11306 %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30907745