Youth exposure to violence prevention programs in a national sample.

Authors

David Finkelhor, University of New Hampshire - Main CampusFollow
Jennifer Vanderminden, University of New Hampshire - Main Campus
Heather A. Turner, University of New Hampshire - Main CampusFollow
Anne M. Shattuck, University of New HampshireFollow
Sherry L. Hamby, The University of the South - SewaneeFollow

Abstract

Abstract

This paper assesses how many children and youth have had exposure to programs aimed at preventing various kinds of violence perpetration and victimization. Based on a national sample of children 5-17, 65% had ever been exposed to a violence prevention program, 55% in the past year. Most respondents (71%) rated the programs as very or somewhat helpful. Younger children (5-9) who had been exposed to higher quality prevention programs had lower levels of peer victimization and perpetration. But the association did not apply to older youth or youth exposed to lower quality programs. Disclosure to authorities was also more common for children with higher quality program exposure who had experienced peer victimizations or conventional crime victimizations. The findings are consistent with possible benefits from violence prevention education programs. However, they also suggest that too few programs currently include efficacious components.

Department

Sociology

Publication Date

4-2014

Journal Title

Child Abuse and Neglect

Publisher

Elsevier

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.01.010

Document Type

Article

Recommended Citation

Finkelhor, D., Vanderminden, J., Turner, H., Shattuck, A., Hamby, S. Youth exposure to violence prevention programs in a national sample. (2014) Child Abuse and Neglect, 38 (4), pp. 677-686.

Rights

© 2014 Elsevier Ltd.