Adolescent Violence Prevention Research Articles

Racial and Gender Differences in Dating Violence Victimization and Disordered Eating Among U.S. High Schools.

In 2013, 1 in every 10 students who dated or went out with someone in the previous 12 months reported some form of dating violence (DV). Only a few studies have evaluated the relationship between DV and disordered eating (DE). This study aims to evaluate gender differences in the association between DV victimization and DE behaviors using a nationally representative sample of high school students in the United States. Data came from the 2013 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Students who reported dating or going out with anyone in the previous 12 months and responded to DV and DE questions were included (N = 9,677). DV was categorized as physical DV, sexual DV, physical and sexual DV, and none. The outcome, or DE, was determined by questions about unhealthy weight control behaviors. Multiple logistic regression models provided odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals. Race/ethnicity was an effect modifier; thus, stratified analyses assessed for gender and racial/ethnic differences. The prevalence of past-year physical DV, sexual DV, both physical and sexual DV, and any DV was 5.4%, 5.4%, 4.7%, and 15.5%, respectively. OR estimates were more robust in males than in females. Victims of physical and sexual DV were significantly more likely to report DE, namely among Hispanic and non-Hispanic White males and all female race/ethnic groups, with the exception of non-Hispanic Black females. Findings strengthen support for routine DV screening. Adolescent violence prevention programs should consider risky behaviors, such as DE. Interventions should account for gender and racial/ethnic differences.

Building on youth’s strengths: A call to include adolescents in developing, implementing, and evaluating violence prevention programs.

OBJECTIVE: To review the challenges and potential benefits of involving adolescents in the development and delivery of prevention programming. Key Points and Implications: Adolescent violence prevention programs are typically designed and delivered by adults in school-based settings. However, research has highlighted a number of problems with the effectiveness and sustainability of adult-designed prevention models. In this commentary, we consider the possibility that program effectiveness might be improved if innovative, evidence-based prevention strategies could be developed to help guide adolescents in developing and delivering prevention materials themselves. To inform our discussion, we surveyed 14 adolescent peer leaders about their experiences developing and delivering violence prevention in their schools and communities. Using their input, we critically review the limitations of adult-delivered prevention, discuss the potential benefits and challenges of involving adolescents in designing and delivering violence prevention content, and suggest a number of future directions for researchers and program developers. Language: en

Implementation and Evaluation of a Youth Violence Prevention Program for Adolescents

Youth violence in the city of Philadelphia, PA, has reached epidemic proportions. The majority of homicides related to gun violence is most prevalent among African American males aged 19 to 24 years. Therefore, it is essential to implement youth violence prevention programs to a target population several years younger than this age group to decrease teen violence in the city. A violence prevention program for 9th and 10th graders was developed, implemented, and evaluated at a local urban charter school. Presentations were given on gun and gang violence, dating violence, and anger management/conflict resolution as well as role playing, group activities, and a field trip to a trauma program for youth at a local hospital. Posttest scores showed an increase in knowledge and skills in several areas, such as therapeutically resolving violent disputes and methods to prevent different types of dating violence. This program provides a blueprint for an adolescent violence prevention program that school nurses could adopt in their communities.

Internet Referrals for Adolescent Violence Prevention: An Innovative Mechanism for Inner-city Emergency Departments

Internet referrals provide a potential solution to limited staff time in emergency departments for health education. One hundred fifteen adolescents were surveyed and referred to a violence prevention website; 22% logged on the website. Although this study bears replication, Internet referral may be a low-intensity intervention that could compliment other violence prevention strategies among adolescents.

A Quest for Influence of Protective Factors for Prevention of Adolescent Violence

A Quest for Influence of Protective Factors for Prevention of Adolescent Violence

Adolescent Violence Prevention: A Review of After-School and Arts-Based Programs

Adolescent Violence Prevention: A Review of After-School and Arts-Based Programs

Injury-related deaths among Finnish adolescents in 1971–2002

The purpose of our study was to examine the nationwide trends in the age- and sex-specific incidence rates of fatal injuries among 10-19-year-old adolescents in Finland, a country with a well-defined white population of 5.2 million. A population-based study was based on Official Cause-of-Death Statistics of Finland. We included adolescents aged 10-19 years who died because of an injury in 1971-2002. During the study period, the incidence of injury-related deaths declined considerably, from 43.0 (per 100,000 persons) (95% confidence interval (CI): 38.5, 47.5) in 1971 to 19.9 (95% CI: 16.5, 23.4) in 2002 (p<0.001). The decrease was seen in both genders. The decline in injury deaths was mainly due to decrease of deaths in traffic accidents. A sharp peak in boys' suicides was found during economic depression. To sum up, the incidence of adolescent injury deaths declined considerably in Finland between 1971 and 2002. The reasons for this positive development are probably multifactorial, including improvements in traffic safety and emergency services. The trend in intentional deaths showed no change during the 32-year study period and therefore prevention of adolescent violence and suicides should also receive attention.

Child and Adolescent Violence

Although the juvenile violent crime rate has decreased steadily during the past 5 years, the problem of violence and violence-related behaviors in the lives of our children and adolescents remains. The incidence of violent victimization against children and violence and violence-related behavior by today's youth is related to a variety of factors. Exposure to violence in the home, school, community, or video games and other entertainment significantly influences aggressive behaviors among children and adolescents. Other childhood violence predictors include alcohol and drug use, gender, and low self-esteem. The childhood violence risk indicators have implications for child and adolescent violence prevention and intervention programs. Nurses who recognize dangerous and potentially dangerous behavior in children and adolescents are better able to provide violence prevention and intervention services and referrals to children at risk or in danger. Because orthopaedic nurses often see adolescents who have already sustained injury from violence, identification of those at risk is particularly important.

Adolescent Violence Prevention Practices Among California Pediatricians

To examine pediatricians' provision of violence prevention services to their adolescent patients and to identify factors associated with pediatricians' implementation of these services. A cross-sectional sample of California pediatricians completed a self-report questionnaire. The "Precede/Proceed" theoretical model guided the questionnaire in identification of factors associated with pediatricians' screening and intervening practices in preventing adolescent violence. Two hundred twenty pediatricians (54% female, 66% white, 24% Asian, 5% Latino, and 5% other) participated in the study. On average, participants screened their patients for violence-related risk factors 31% of the time for fighting, 39% of the time for violence in the home, and 29% of the time for weapon carrying. Participants provided their at-risk patients with violence-related interventions less than 50% of the time (on average) implementing the following interventions: written materials, follow-up appointments, discipline counseling, or referral to a community organization, Child Protective Services, or a specialized adolescent clinic. Factors associated with violence prevention screening practices included the following: positive attitudes and beliefs regarding screening for violence, familiarity with violence prevention guidelines, use of prompts in medical records, perceptions of greater skills, and positive reinforcement from patients and colleagues for providing violence prevention services (R(2)=0.44; P<.001). Factors associated with violence prevention intervention practices included: positive attitudes and beliefs in screening for violence, availability of resources, and positive reinforcement from patients and colleagues for providing violence prevention services (R(2)=0.37; P<.001). California pediatricians are not widely screening their adolescent patients for risk factors associated with adolescent violence, nor are they providing interventions to their adolescent patients who may be at risk for violence. The factors associated with pediatricians' implementation of violence prevention services may assist in the development of effective interventions designed to enhance their delivery of these services to their adolescent patients.

Preventing violence, preventing war*

This paper describes the association between adolescent boredom and violence, using evidence from rock music. Parallels are drawn between successful programmes for the prevention of adolescent violence and strategies for prevention of nuclear war.

Attitudes and practices among pediatricians towards violence prevention for adolescents

Attitudes and practices among pediatricians towards violence prevention for adolescents

Practitioners’ Forum: Public Health and the Primary Prevention of Adolescent Violence—The Violence Prevention Project

The Violence Prevention Project is a community-based outreach and education project directed toward reducing the negative social and medical outcomes of violence among adolescents. Community agency personnel are trained to work with youth on issues of anger and conflict resolution. A mass media campaign advertises the issue to the broader population. Interventions, such as the Violence Prevention Project, can use the public health strategies to increase awareness of the problem and associated risk factors, provide alternative conflict resolution techniques, and generate a new community ethos around violence. This approach holds great promise in an area in which after-the-fact legislative and punitive interventions have not worked.