The New Imperative: Reducing Adolescent-Related Violence by Building Resilient Adolescents

Involvement in violence is affected by a variety of risk factors and timing, duration, number of risks, and intensity of risk factors. The earlier the exposure to risk starts, the longer the exposure continues, the number of risks one is exposed to, and intensity of the risk factors experienced are all important. A child who is severely beaten, sexually abused, or both; one who grows up witnessing intimate partner or family violence; one who attends a failing school or is not involved in structured after-school activities; or one who lives in a violent neighborhood is at increased risk of becoming involved in violent behavior. The nature of the violence is worsened by the impact of shifting family structure and other risk factors such as alcohol and drugs. Adolescents who are exposed to positive parenting and supportive individuals, receive relevant education, are literate, possess life skills, and participate in structured, supervised activities become empowered young people who can resist violence.