optimusstudy.org

Student Survey

Contents of the student survey
The Optimus Study will deal with the experience of young people from all over Switzerland who have fallen victim to sexual abuse and violence. The study will attempt to identify the types of assault to which the young people are exposed as well as the effects on the victims. One particular focus of the study will be to record sexual assaults and neglect by those responsible for the care of the young people. The study will provide statistics on the prevalence and incidence of different types of victimization: experiences of violence, neglect and sexual abuse. The study will also record the effects of such abuse on the young people as well as their state of health and mental/emotional state at the time of the survey. In addition to the type of assault, the interviewees will also be asked about where the abuse took place and the use of outreach projects. This is intended to provide indications as to how and where preventative measures might be applied most effectively and how support for the victims can be improved.

Target group
The interviewees will be made up of a representative random sample of ninth-graders from all over Switzerland. The random sample was taken by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office from all state schools. In doing so, schools and classes were chosen at random, in each case in relation to the population of the respective canton of residence. This random cluster sample includes 179 schools with approx. 460 ninth grade classes from all over Switzerland. The goal is to survey 6,000 ninth grade students in these 179 schools.

Conducting the student survey
The survey will be carried out class by class at the selected schools throughout all of Switzerland. It is to start after the summer break and should be completed by May 2010. In each case, our staff will travel to the selected schools. Following a brief introduction on the purpose of the study, the students will be able to fill in the questionnaire themselves there and then on laptop computers. This guarantees the highest possible degree of anonymity and data protection. Participation is voluntary. It will take approximately one period to complete the questionnaire.

Questions
The student survey focuses on the victimization of the young people and aims to record the nature and number of incidents of victimization experienced during their lives to date. In addition to the type of victimization, interviewees will be asked to provide precise details on where the abuse occurred, the number and age of the perpetrators as well as any repercussions. The stress that the young people experienced as a result of abuse and the current impairment of their physical and emotional health are also of central importance.

Results of the study
Initial results of the student survey are expected from the beginning of January 2011.