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Witnessing violence in early secondary school predicts subsequent student impairment
- Source :
- Journal of epidemiology and community health. 72(12)
- Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- BackgroundPast research suggests that adolescents who witness violence are at risk of adjustment problems. However, few studies have implemented a longitudinal design and have accounted for direct experiences of victimisation and other major confounders. This prospective study examines the relationship between witnessing school violence and subsequent impairment and whether such associations depend on the kind of violence witnessed.Methods3936 adolescents from Quebec (Canada) were followed from ages 12 through 15 years. Linear regression tested associations between witnessing school violence at age 13 and subsequent antisocial behaviour (drug use, delinquency), emotional distress (social anxiety, depressive symptoms) and academic adjustment (school achievement, engagement) at age 15. We compared the relative contribution of differing forms of witnessing school violence versus being victimised directly.ResultsGeneral school violence predicted later impairment. The adjusted associations between indirectly experiencing violence as a bystander and subsequent impairment were comparable to those of direct victimisation. Witnessing covert and major violence was associated with drug use and delinquency. Witnessing minor violence was associated with increases in drug use, social anxiety, depressive symptoms and decreases in school engagement.ConclusionsAlmost all students witnessed school violence, which predicted impairment. Witnessing violence was associated with risk of subsequent adjustment problems 2 years later. Directly experienced victimisation showed a comparable magnitude of risk. This suggests that when it comes to symptoms of conduct disorder, witnessing violence might have the same impact as experiencing it directly. Witnessing earlier covert and major violence predicted social impairment whereas minor violence predicted psychological and academic impairment.
- Subjects :
- Male
Adolescent
Epidemiology
Psychology, Adolescent
Poison control
050109 social psychology
Violence
Victimisation
Suicide prevention
Injury prevention
Juvenile delinquency
Medicine
Humans
0501 psychology and cognitive sciences
Students
Crime Victims
Schools
business.industry
05 social sciences
Social anxiety
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Quebec
Human factors and ergonomics
Antisocial Personality Disorder
medicine.disease
Conduct disorder
Female
business
Social Adjustment
Stress, Psychological
050104 developmental & child psychology
Clinical psychology
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14702738
- Volume :
- 72
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of epidemiology and community health
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....4dc142156b91532a48cd472c2cc5cee4