Adolescent Violence Research Articles

Violence victimisation and young adult cardiometabolic health: the role of timing and social identity

Background Adolescent violence victimisation is associated with a spectrum of adult social and behavioural health outcomes, including adverse mental health symptoms. However, underlying social stress mechanisms linking adolescent victimisation to adult cardiometabolic health remains poorly understood. Aim The current study aims to reveal how adolescent and adult interpersonal violence exposures each get “under the skin” to affect adult metabolic syndrome, including direct victimisation and, additionally, witnessing violence. Subjects and methods We use a nationally representative longitudinal cohort, the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, and leverage a quasi-experimental approach, propensity score matching regression analysis (n = 14,267). Results We find that adolescent violence exposure carries an enduring effect on young adult metabolic syndrome risk factor incidence and high-risk status, which is independent of young adult violence. Violence effects do not vary by sex or racial identity. Conclusion In sum, adolescent exposure to direct interpersonal violence significantly affects young adult cardiometabolic health in ways suggesting adolescence is a sensitive period for the onset of harmful cardiometabolic effects in early adulthood. Findings warrant future study of underlying pathways and how these effects shape social inequities in cardiometabolic health among U.S. adults broadly.

Efficacy of Cue Centered Therapy in Exposed Adolescents of Interpersonal Violence: A Comprehensive Review of Clinical Interventions

Aim of the Study: Interpersonal violence significantly contributed to traumatic experiences among adolescents, increasing their vulnerability to anxiety, stress, depression and PTSD. This review examined the psychological impact of interpersonal violence on children and adolescents aged 8 and 19 years and the specific objective was to evaluated the efficacy of therapeutic interventions treating PTSD, anxiety, stress and depression in this age group up to 2024, with a focus on Cue-Centered Therapy (CCT). Contemporary evidence highlighted the superior efficacy of CCT compared to interventions like CBT, TF-CBT, CBTIS, EMDR, exposure therapy and others in alleviating PTSD, anxiety, depression, and stress among adolescents. Methodology: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines and synthesized data from randomized controlled trials, longitudinal studies, case study and meta-analyses. This review compared CCT to other well-established trauma focused psychotherapies for adolescents in treating PTSD symptoms, anxiety and stress from interpersonal violence. Findings: Using a trauma-related cue approach, coupled with a life timeline, conditioning processes and exposures, CCT provided a comprehensive treatment model that simultaneously addressed discrete traumatic events and ongoing stressors, yielding more adaptive coping strategies, increased self-efficacy and improved outcomes for both affected adolescents and their caregivers. Conclusion: In conclusion, interpersonal violence in adolescents led to complex mental health issues like PTSD, depression, anxiety and stress, which hindered development. Early dentification prevented long term emotional and physical problems. Psychotherapeutic interventions like CBT, TF-CBT, EMDR and CCT were effective in treating PTSD, with CCT demonstrating high efficacy due to its hybrid model and adaptability for trauma related symptoms.

Perception of dating violence in adolescents through the identification of "Red flags" and "Green flags" in a community intervention

Perception of dating violence in adolescents through the identification of "Red flags" and "Green flags" in a community intervention

Does disability modify the association between poor mental health and violence victimisation over adolescence? Evidence from the CoVAC cohort study in Uganda.

We aimed to estimate the impact of poor mental health in early adolescence on subsequent poor mental health, depression, and violence victimisation in late adolescence and to determine whether young people living with disabilities experienced a stronger relationship between mental health and these outcomes. Data from two waves of a longitudinal cohort study of 2773 Ugandan adolescents were used to assess the impact of mental health difficulties in early adolescence (aged 11-14) on presence of subsequent mental health difficulties, depression and past year violence victimisation in later adolescence (aged 15-18). We used g-computation to examine how these outcomes changed dependent on levels of poor mental health in early adolescence and explored functional difficulties as an effect modifier. This study demonstrates high prevalence of mental health difficulties in adolescence. There is a positive association between mental health difficulties in early adolescence and experience of mental health difficulties, depression, and past year violence in later adolescence. The risk of poor outcomes is greater for individuals experiencing poorer mental health in early adolescence. The relationships between early mental health difficulties and both mental health difficulties in later adolescence and past year violence are stronger in young people with functional difficulties. Poor mental health in early adolescence is associated with depression and violence victimisation in later adolescence, and the association is stronger among adolescents living with disabilities. School-aged adolescents would benefit from violence prevention and mental health promotion interventions which are inclusive and engage and respond to the needs and rights of adolescents with disabilities.

When crime is an option: the impact of stressful conditions and moral beliefs on the rational considerations of adolescents

ABSTRACT This study examines ways in which adolescent crime and violence are shaped by the intersection of youth rational choice considerations, negative life circumstances, and personal beliefs. Using survey data recently collected from adolescents in several U.S. metropolitan areas, a series of Tobit regression models is estimated to assess direct effects as well as two-way and three-way interactional effects. Youth who report higher levels of perceived crime benefits are more likely to engage in crime and violence, while youth who report higher levels of perceived sanctioning certainty for crime are less likely to do so. Whereas the crime-inducing influence of perceived crime benefits appears to be generally invariant, stressful conditions reduce the crime-protective effect of high perceived sanctioning certainty, and strong moral beliefs amplify this effect. In addition, the effect of the three-way interaction between perceived sanctioning certainty, stressful conditions, and moral beliefs is found to be crime-specific. This study calls for a more systematic inclusion of conditioning factors within the rational choice framework and for more comparative studies on different aspects of rational choice across types of crime. Policy recommendations are discussed.

Peran Pendidikan Agama Islam dalam Kekerasan Berbasis Gender Online pada Remaja di Cirebon

In facing the impact of digitalization, it is necessary to control the use of technology. This can be seen from the many cases of gender violence in adolescents. This study aims to investigate the role of Islamic Religious Education (PAI) in dealing with online gender-based violence among adolescents in Cirebon. Through a qualitative phenomenological approach, this research focuses on adolescents' understanding, perception, and experience of PAI teaching related to the phenomenon of gender violence in the digital realm. In-depth interviews with adolescents, PAI teachers, and related individuals were conducted to explore how the religious values taught in PAI affect adolescents' attitudes, behaviors, and thoughts towards online gender-based violence. The data analysis carried out includes data reduction, data presentation, and making conclusions. The results of this study are the importance of the role of PAI in shaping the moral and ethical awareness of adolescents against online gender-based violence. Understanding religious values in this context encourages more responsible online behavior and reduces the risk of engaging in gender violence. The implications of this study can be the basis for the development of more effective educational strategies in preventing and tackling online gender-based violence among adolescents.

Associations between violence in childhood, depression and suicide attempts in adolescence: evidence from a cohort study in Luwero district, Uganda

BackgroundMany studies have documented an association between violence victimisation and poor mental health. However, few studies use longitudinal data from low- and middle-income countries with attention to how associations differ by experiencing specific types of violence or alongside different contexts of peer and family support. In this study, we quantify the association between experiences of violence in early adolescence and depression and suicide attempts in late adolescence and explore whether this association is modified by family and peer connectedness.MethodsData came from the Contexts of Violence Against Children (CoVAC) cohort study in Luwero District, Uganda, involving 2773 participants aged 11–14 years at Wave 1 (2014) and 15–18 years at Wave 2 (2018). Physical, sexual, and emotional violence were measured at Wave 1. Mental health outcomes, depression symptoms in the past two weeks, and lifetime suicide attempts were measured at Wave (2) We used logistic regression models, stratified by sex, to estimate adjusted odds ratios with an interaction term to test for effect modification by peer and family connectedness at Wave 1.FindingsAt Wave 1, the prevalence of any violence from any perpetrator was 90% (physical violence: 87%, physical violence excluding caning: 68%, sexual violence: 6.3%, emotional violence: 56.8%). At Wave 2, 13.3% of participants had scores indicative of depression and 4.3% reported ever attempting suicide. Physical violence excluding caning, emotional violence, and sexual violence during early adolescence increased the odds of depression and attempting suicide in late adolescence for both boys and girls. Experiencing any violence (including caning) in early adolescence was not associated with depression in late adolescence, including in sex-stratified models. Childhood experience of any violence was associated with a suicide attempt violence in early adolescence (aOR: 2.60; 95%CI: 1.08, 6.27). High peer support mitigated the effect of any violence and physical violence on depression.ConclusionsFindings highlight the importance of efforts to prevent violence and improve access to response and support services for violence and mental health for young people. Findings also underscore the important role friends and peer networks can play in mitigating the effects of violence as young people grow up.

Determinants of South Korean adolescents' offline and online violence: a structural equation modeling approach

Adolescent violence has been one of the most serious social concerns for the last few decades. With the rapid development and spread of the Internet and digital technologies, online violence has become another major type of adolescent violence. This study investigates the antecedents of South Korean adolescents’ offline and online violence by employing both the theoretical and empirical foundations of traditional violence literature. The research model was proposed and constructed based on general strain theory and social ecological theory with considerations of 2481 middle school first-grade student samples from the 2018 Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey (KCYPS). Structural equation modeling (SEM) results presented the direct effects of emotions and indirect effects of social relationships on adolescents’ delinquency, bullying, and online violence. Overall, the findings of the current study are consistent with those of previous studies and theoretical assumptions. Except for the effect of social withdrawal on delinquency, the emotions had significant effects on violence perpetration. Furthermore, relationships with parents, friends, and teachers showed protective effects against negative emotions. Finally, online violence was significantly affected by all types of social relationships. The findings of this study can provide a better understanding of both online and offline violence in adolescents. In addition, since the results were derived from a nationally representative sample, this study can provide practitioners in South Korea with guidance on how to set proper interventions for adolescents’ social and emotional aspects of violence perpetration.

Supplemental Material for Longitudinal Reciprocal Associations Between Internalizing Symptoms and Child-to-Parent Violence in Adolescents: The Role of Cognitive Mechanisms

Supplemental Material for Longitudinal Reciprocal Associations Between Internalizing Symptoms and Child-to-Parent Violence in Adolescents: The Role of Cognitive Mechanisms

Predictors of the Onset of Sexual Violence Perpetration in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood.

To identify factors in adolescence that predict the onset of sexual violence in adolescence and young adulthood. Data were analyzed from six survey waves of the longitudinal Growing up with Media Study (2008-2018) conducted in the USA. Participants were 778 youth 13-18 years old at baseline, who completed online surveys assessing sexual violence behaviors and predictors. Sexual violence perpetration behaviors included sexual assault, rape, attempted rape, and coercive sex. Only 2% of females and 3% of males reported their first sexual violence perpetration by age 14. In contrast, by age 18, 6% of females and 12% of males had perpetrated their first sexual violence. For both males and females, the rate of the onset seems to plateau by age 22. Predictors of the onset of sexually violent behavior for those who began perpetrating when they were 14-17 years old were largely similar to those who began perpetrating when they were 18-25 years old. Alcohol plus other substance use, aggressive and delinquent behavior, caregiver monitoring, behavior problems at school, externalizing peers, exposure to community violence, and exposure to violent media were all implicated. Early prevention-well before college and perhaps even before high school-is needed to have an impact on the onset of sexual violence perpetration, as most perpetrators of sexual violence will have acted for the first time by age 23. Several modifiable risk factors observed in adolescence could signal the opportunity for targeted prevention to reduce the odds of onset of sexual violence.

Anger and associated risk and protective factors among rural American adolescents: Implications for violence prevention

BackgroundAdolescent violence in the United States is a prevalent public health problem and is understudied in rural settings. Anger is a significant risk factor for adolescent violence. To better craft adolescent violence interventions, it is important to examine anger and identify its most significant associated factors. AimsThis study examined (1) self-reported anger changes over time for rural American adolescents; and (2) structural, community, interpersonal, and individual level factors that may contribute to anger. MethodsWe analyzed self-reported survey data from West Virginian middle schoolers (N = 2861) with anger as the outcome. Data was collected twice yearly from October 2020 through April 2023. Independent variables included perceptions of inequality, individual socioeconomic status (SES), neighborhood characteristics, family structure, support from adults at home and school, and harsh parenting. AnalysisGeneralized estimating equation Poisson regression models for main effects and gender interaction were used. Parameter estimates were exponentiated and interpreted as Rate Ratios (RR). Self-reported gender was an effect modifier. ResultsSignificant main effects included perceived inequality (RR = 0.98, 95 % CI = 0.97–0.99), SES (RR = 0.99, 95 % CI = 0.98–0.99), supportive adults at school (RR = 0.99, 95 % CI = 0.98–0.99), primary caregiver support (RR = 0.99, 95 % CI = 0.98–0.99), and harsh parenting (RR = 1.10, 95 % CI = 1.05–1.05). Significant gender interaction terms included perceived harsh parenting (RR = 0.98, 95 % CI = 0.97–0.99) and supportive adults at school (RR = 1.01, 95 % CI = 1.00–1.02) for ‘other’ genders (i.e., participants identifying as neither boy nor girl) compared to boys. ConclusionsFindings underline the importance of examining rural adolescent anger development and associated risk factors for designing prevention approaches to curb downstream violent behavior.

Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Training Package for Violence Prevention in Adolescents: Its Effect on Self-control and Social Skills

Background: Adolescence is a period marked by significant changes, during which individuals face major emotional, cognitive, and behavioral challenges. Violence remains a significant global concern, and factors such as self-control and social skills play a crucial role in reducing and managing adolescent violence. Objectives: This study aimed to design, implement, and evaluate a training package for violence prevention (TPVP) in adolescents and assess its impact on self-control and social skills among students in Isfahan. Methods: This study was conducted on sixty 13 - 15-year-old female students in Isfahan, Iran, during the 2022 - 2023 academic year. First, the TPVP was developed after reviewing relevant theories and existing training packages, then it was evaluated by a panel of faculty members from the Department of Social Medicine, psychiatrists, and clinical psychologists. The students were randomly divided into two groups: (1) an intervention group, and (2) a control group, with 30 students in each group. The intervention group received the TPVP and attended five training sessions. To assess social skills and self-control, the Inderbitzen and Foster Social Skills Questionnaire and the Tangney Self-control Questionnaire were administered to both groups before and three months after the intervention. Results: Sixty female students aged 13 - 15 participated in this study. The mean self-control score in the intervention group was significantly higher than in the control group after the intervention (46.33 ± 6.488 vs. 40.44 ± 7.307, P = 0.002). Prior to the training, there was no significant difference in social skills scores between the two groups. However, following the intervention, the mean social skills score in the intervention group was significantly higher than in the control group (118.38.726 vs. 102.913.468, P < 0.0001). Conclusion: The violence prevention training package was effective in improving self-control and social skills among students. The study demonstrated that the implementation of a structured TPVP can enhance both self-control and social skills in adolescents.

Which Factors Explain the Effectiveness of School-Based Interventions to Prevent Dating and Relationship Violence and Gender-Based Violence? Systematic Review of Mediation Analyses in Randomized Trials

Adolescent interpersonal violence, particularly gender-based violence (GBV) and dating and relationship violence (DRV), are important public health issues frequently addressed through school-based interventions. This brief report systematically reviews the published evidence on mediational pathways for school-based interventions to effectively reduce GBV and DRV. As part of a larger systematic review funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, we identified six randomized trials in which mediation analyses of either DRV or GBV perpetration or victimization outcomes for four different interventions were conducted. We synthesize findings narratively by outcome, type of mediator, and follow-up period (short term or longitudinal). A total of eight mediators were analyzed across all studies. We found clear support for mediation through violence acceptance and delinquent behaviors; inconsistent support for mediation through knowledge, school belonging, belief in the need for help, and gender-inequitable beliefs; and no support for mediation through conflict management skills or bystander actions. These findings provide helpful suggestions on effective pathways for intervention efficacy. Overall, however, there is a need for mediation analyses to be conducted more often in GBV/DRV intervention evaluations. We discuss implications of these findings and suggest areas for future research on mediated pathways for GBV/DRV reduction.

The Influence of the Time Token Learning Model on Knowledge of Prevention Violence and Sexual Harassment in Early Adolescents

The Influence of the Time Token Learning Model on Knowledge of Prevention Violence and Sexual Harassment in Early Adolescents

State-level structural sexism and adolescent sexual violence victimization in the US

BackgroundAdolescent sexual violence victimization is a significant public health issue in the United States. Structural sexism, a form of gender inequality at the societal level, may play a crucial role in influencing the prevalence of sexual violence victimization among adolescents. ObjectiveThis study aims to examine the association between state-level structural sexism and sexual violence victimization among adolescents and to explore how this relationship varies between male and female adolescents. Participants and settingData was derived from a nationally representative sample of high school students in grades 9–12 across the United States who participated in the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBS) in 2017 and 2019. MethodsA state-level structural sexism index was created from nine different items to reflect the multidimensional nature of structural sexism. This study employs multi-level regression analysis to investigate the impact of state-level structural sexism on three types of sexual violence victimization: sexual violence, sexual dating violence, and physical dating violence. ResultsThis study revealed a significant interaction between structural sexism and gender. In states with higher levels of structural sexism, female adolescents reported increased likelihood of sexual violence (β = 0.013, p < .001), sexual dating violence (β = 0.006, p < .001), and physical dating violence (β = 0.006, p < .001) compared to males. Conversely, male adolescents in these states reported lower rates of victimization. ConclusionsThe results underscore the role of structural sexism in influencing sexual violence victimization among adolescents. Addressing structural sexism may be essential in mitigating the risk of sexual violence victimization, especially for female adolescents.

The Effect of Educational Media Website and Surveillance on Risk Behavior for Prevention of Premarital Sex and Sexual Violence in Adolescents in Gorontalo Regency High School

The Effect of Educational Media Website and Surveillance on Risk Behavior for Prevention of Premarital Sex and Sexual Violence in Adolescents in Gorontalo Regency High School

Design and Validation of a Scale to Measure Perceptions and Misconceptions about Menstruation in Nursing College Students: The METCON© Scale.

Menstruation remains surrounded by taboo and symbolic violence for many adolescents and young women today, and it is urgent to identify existing stereotypes. The objective was to validate a Spanish-language instrument to assess perceptions, false beliefs, gender stereotypes, fears, and taboos surrounding menstruation in nursing women's studies. A cross-sectional study for psychometric validation of the METCON© scale (22 item version) was assessed in a cohort of 401 female nursing university students (2016-2019), assessing the psychometric properties in terms of internal consistency and structural validity. Furthermore, an invariance analysis was conducted to discern structural disparities before and after studying the subject of gender and health. The METCON© scale showed acceptable internal consistency scores measured by Cronbach's alpha. Exploratory factor analysis indicated a structure of six factors which explained 60.50% of the total variance with a total of 19 items. Reliability analysis indicated adequate internal consistency (α = 0.613). Confirmatory factor analysis showed adequate values, confirming this structure. The invariance analyses identified that the structure remained adequate when evaluated before and after studying the subject of gender and health. Once validated, this instrument could serve as a valid and reliable tool for comprehensively examining perceptions, beliefs, and myths surrounding menstruation, addressing not only biological but also social and cultural aspects.

Adolescent relationship violence: Should pushes and hits always be considered violent?

Adolescent relationship violence: Should pushes and hits always be considered violent?

I Was the Violence Victim, I Am the Perpetrator: Bullying and Cyberbullying Perpetration and Associated Factors among Adolescents

Bullying and cyberbullying significantly threaten the development and mental health of both victims and perpetrators. This study aimed to analyze the associations between socioeconomic characteristics, personal experiences of violence, perceived social support from peers, and acceptance of violence and (cyber)bullying perpetration. The study involved 1146 secondary school students, consisting of 698 females and 448 males, aged 13 to 16. Prevalence ratios (PRs) were calculated using Poisson regression with robust variance. The results indicated that 12.32% of girls and 18.97% of boys reported engaging in bullying and/or cyberbullying. The likelihood of perpetration was lower among adolescents who had not experienced physical and/or sexual abuse before age 15, but higher among those in romantic relationships who had been victims of dating violence or had experienced (cyber)bullying victimization. Additionally, perceived social support from classmates was associated with a lower likelihood of becoming a perpetrator, whereas acceptance of violence was positively associated with (cyber)bullying perpetration. Preventing adolescents from becoming perpetrators of bullying and/or cyberbullying requires early intervention to prevent all forms of violence in childhood and adolescence, as well as bolstering personal and environmental resources by providing social support.

Is there consensus on child violence exposure measures? A study of six recommended instruments

ABSTRACT Background: International research has established that children and adolescents are at high risk for being exposed to violence. A systematic review published in 2023 recommended six child and adolescent self-report violence against children (VAC) measures, based on their psychometric properties, in a systematic COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) review. However, the degree of overlap and heterogeneity was not part of the analysis. Objective: To compare the six measures with respect to item overlap and differences concerning specification of exposure dimensions. Method: A content analysis of the original 174 items resulted in a reduction to 38 unique items. These items were organized visually in a co-occurrence circle using an adapted version of Fried’s R code. Furthermore, a pairwise comparison of event lists was performed using the Jaccard index. Results: There was a modest overlap among the six measures. Only one item was present in all six measures, only two items were present in four measures, and 78% of the items were present in just one or two measures. The overall overlap between the six measures was 25%. Conclusions: The lack of overlap among measures reflects a heterogeneity of definitions and purposes. It also impedes progress in research, as comparisons between various studies are difficult to make in a valid and reliable way. The lack of consensus also delays efficient political initiatives, because solid, consensual knowledge about the prevalence of VAC does not exist.