The outbreak of the COVID-19 virus in December 2019 and the restrictive measures that were implemented to slow down the spread of the virus have had a significant impact on our way of life. The sudden shift from offline to online activities and work may have resulted in new cybersecurity risks. The present study therefore examined changes in the prevalence, nature and impact of cybercrime among Dutch citizens and SME owners, during the pandemic. Qualitative interviews with ten experts working at various public and private organizations in the Netherlands that have insights into cybercrime victimization and data from victim surveys administrated in 2019 and 2021 were analyzed. The results show that there was only a small, non-statistically significant increase in the prevalence of cybercrime during the pandemic among citizens and SME owners. Nevertheless, the COVID-19 pandemic did have an impact on the modus operandi of cybercriminals: victims indicated that a considerable proportion of the offenses was related to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the case of online fraud. Moreover, the use of new applications and programs for work was associated with an increased risk of cybercrime victimization during the COVID-19 crisis. These results suggest that increases in rates of registered cybercrime that were found in previous studies might be the consequence of a reporting effect and that cybercriminals adapt their modus operandi to current societal developments.
Research shows that victimization rates in forensic mental health care are high for both female and male patients. However, gender differences have been found in types and patterns of victimization (more sexual abuse and more complex trauma for women), cognitive appraisal, and response to traumatic events. Gender-responsive treatments focusing on trauma have been designed to adhere to these gender differences; however, despite promising research results, these interventions are yet to be introduced in many settings. This study examined how trauma is addressed in current clinical practice in Dutch forensic mental health care, whether professionals are knowledgeable of gender differences in trauma, and how gender-responsive factors such as self-esteem, self-efficacy, social relations, and coping skills are considered in treatment for female patients. We used a mixed-method design consisting of an online survey and 33 semi-structured interviews with professionals and patients. The results suggested that Dutch forensic mental health care could address trauma more structurally, and professionals could be more aware of gender differences and gender-responsive factors. Early start of trauma treatment was deemed important but was not current practice according to patients. Based on this study, guidelines were developed for gender-responsive, trauma-informed work in forensic mental health care.
This research adopts a social constructionist perspective and utilizes qualitative inquiry with a generative approach (McNamee, Gergen, Camargo-Borges, Rasera, 2020). The focus lies on collaborative efforts between the researcher and trafficking survivors, aiming to mutually shape and understand the experiences of trafficking, while fostering relational agency. The aim is to co-construct a relational space in which counter-narratives on victimization can be generated. Ten interviews were carried out with women survivors of trafficking at the Anti-Trafficking System of the N.A.Ve Project (Veneto Region AntiTrafficking Network). These women were from different nationalities and experiences of exploitation. We referred to the principles of Appreciative Inquiry, and formulated an episodic interview (Flick, 2023) composed by circular and reflexive questions, as well as generative questions inspired by the items of the Post Traumatic Growth Inventory(Romaioli, 2022). The critical reflexivity of the researcher and the research team was enhanced through an autoethnography and reflection work. A reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2022) was performed on the gathered textual material, generating five themes: resources/strengths, relationships, future, helpful aspects, momentary feelings.This inquiry illustrates the potentials offered by a methodology inspired by a social constructionist perspective with a generative approach.
