Peer-reviewed article
Adolescent Sexual Violence in the Digital Era: A Case-Based Medico-Legal Study.
Bouchalta M, Benhadda H, Belkaid B, Belhousse A ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examines cases of sexual violence against adolescents involving digital technologies, based on a six-month review of medico-legal cases. Digital tools played various roles at different stages of victimization. Victims often experienced significant psychological and social impacts even when physical examination findings were limited. The research emphasizes the need for a medico-legal approach that incorporates the digital dimension to better identify and understand these cases.
Key points
- Digital technologies are involved at multiple stages of adolescent sexual violence victimization trajectories
- Psychological and social impacts on victims were frequently substantial
- Physical findings at clinical examination were often limited or absent
- A comprehensive medico-legal approach should systematically integrate the digital dimension
- Understanding digital practices is relevant for improving case identification
Limitations
The study is retrospective and case-based, limiting generalizability. The document does not specify the number of cases analyzed, the countries involved, or detailed characteristics of the victimized adolescents.
Abstract
The rapid expansion of digital technologies has profoundly altered the contexts in which adolescents are exposed to certain forms of violence. Based on a six-month retrospective medico-legal study, this work examines cases of sexual violence involving minors, focusing on the role played by digital practices in the occurrence and progression of the events. The analysis reveals a range of configurations in which digital tools intervene at different stages of victimization trajectories. Psychological and social impact was frequently substantial, often contrasting with limited or absent physical findings at clinical examination. These findings highlight the relevance of a comprehensive medico-legal approach that systematically integrates the digital dimension in order to improve the identification and understanding of these complex situations among adolescents.