Assessing Childhood Trauma: The Iranian Validation of the Juvenile Polyvictimizaion Questionnaire and Its Link to Psychiatric Symptoms

Background: Polyvictimization involves experiencing multiple types of victimization. Evidence indicates that individuals subjected to polyvictimization face a greater risk for mental health issues than those exposed to a single form of victimization. Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Persian version of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ) and explore the association between childhood polyvictimization and adult psychiatric symptoms among Iranians. Materials and Methods: Conducted as a cross-sectional correlational study, a total of 573 adults aged 18 to 45 (146 men, 417 women, and 17 individuals without reported gender) with a mean age of 24.02 were recruited through non-random sampling. Inclusion criteria were limited to age, and participants completed the JVQ and a psychiatric symptom checklist in the spring (March to May) of 2023 via social media. Psychometric properties were evaluated via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and internal consistency measures. Furthermore, regression analysis examined how total victimization scores and subscales predict psychiatric symptoms. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 and AMOS. Results: Initial CFA revealed a weak model fit. By removing 10 items with low factor loading (< 0.4) and resolving overlaps, the final model demonstrated acceptable fit indices (e.g., χ2/df = 1.98, GFI = 0.94, CFI = 0.91, IFI = 0.91, TLI = 0.89, RMSEA = 0.04). The Persian JVQ exhibited strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.84). Results indicated that polyvictimization accounted for 22% of the variance in psychiatric symptoms (P < 0.001). Notably, each additional unit of polyvictimization was associated with a 47% rise in psychiatric symptoms. Conclusions: The Persian adaptation of the JVQ demonstrates strong potential for both epidemiological research and clinical assessments of childhood victimization in Iran. The positive correlation between childhood polyvictimization and adult psychiatric symptoms underscores the importance of targeted prevention and intervention strategies for high-risk groups. Biases from self-report measures, sampling limitations, and cultural factors should be considered, and future studies should better address confounders such as demographics and stressors to strengthen causal interpretations. Caution is advised when comparing these findings to data on conventional crimes due to methodological and cultural differences.