The Impact of Violence Victimization on Health Among Children and Adolescents : Focusing on Differences by Disability Status

Objectives: To examine associations between violence victimization and physical and mental health among children and adolescents, and to assess whether these associations differ by disability status. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the 2022 National Survey on the Status of Children’s and Adolescents’ Rights in South Korea. Participants were 8,137 elementary, middle, and high school students (75 students with disabilities; 8,062 students without disability). Violence victimization was measured across five domains(parents, teachers, peers, online, and neglect) using Likert-type items, domain scores were summed to generate composite victimization indices. Logistic regression models estimated associations between victimization and three outcomes: self-reported physical ill-health, suicidal ideation, and insufficient sleep. An interaction term tested moderate effect by disability. Results: Mean composite victimization scores were higher among students with disabilities than among those without (28.77 vs 23.45)(p<0.001). Interpersonal victimization (parents + teachers + peers) was also higher in the disability group (15.25 vs 11.74)(p<0.001). Higher victimization scores were associated with significantly greater odds of physical ill-health, suicidal ideation, and insufficient sleep. The victimization-by-disability interaction was statistically significant and negative, indicating that the incremental adverse health impact of increasing victimization was less steep among students with disabilities relative to students without disability. Conclusion: This study showed that the extent of violence victimization was higher among children and adolescents with disabilities than among their non-disabled peers. It also confirmed that violence victimization negatively affects both physical and mental health. Prevention policies are essential, particularly for children and adolescents with disabilities who may face greater environmental and social risks than their non-disabled peers. The findings underscore the need for tailored prevention programs and multi-level support systems across schools, families, and communities, and highlight the importance of future large-scale studies to better understand and address these risks.