Publications
Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics Profile Series
Criminal Victimization and Health: A Profile of Victimization Among Persons with Activity Limitations or Other Health Problems, 2004
Conclusion
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Results from the General Social Survey (GSS) confirm what several other studies had already found, i.e. that persons with activity limitations have higher rates of violent victimization than persons without limitations.
It was also found that persons with activity limitations experience higher levels of multiple victimization, spousal violence, stalking and fear of crime. Also, incidents of victimization involving persons with activity limitations were more likely to have been committed by a person known to the victim, to occur at the victim's home and to be reported to the police.
Moreover, activity limitation is not the only health factor linked to higher victimization rates. It was also found that self-rated poor or fair health status, as well as the use of antidepressants, sedatives or sleeping pills was also associated with the risk of violent victimization.
The analysis of victimization among persons with disabilities based on the GSS excludes certain population groups that are particularly at risk of violence such as children with disabilities (OVC, 2009; Health Canada, 2002) and persons living in an institution (OVC, 2009; Health Canada, 2002, 1993; Reid, 2004; Sorensen, 2002) which are not included in the sample. That being said, a comprehensive analysis of victimization among persons with disabilities that would include those groups would serve to further inform issues surrounding the link between health or disability status and victimization.
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