Details:

Alternative Title:
J Sch Health
Personal Author:
Johnson, Sarah Lindstrom ; Burke, Jessica Griffin ; Gielen, Andrea Carlson
Johnson, Sarah Lindstrom ; Burke, Jessica Griffin ; Gielen, Andrea Carlson Less -
Description:
Background

Numerous studies have demonstrated an association between characteristics of the school environment and the likelihood of school violence. However, little is known about the relative importance of various characteristics of the school environment or their differential impact on multiple violence outcomes.

Methods

Primarily African-American students (n=27) from Baltimore City high schools participated in concept mapping sessions, which produced interpretable maps of the school environment's contribution to school violence. Participants generated statements about their school environment's influence on school violence and with the assistance of quantitative methods grouped these statements according to their similarity. Participants provided information about the importance of each of these statements for the initiation, cessation, and severity of the violence that occurs at school.

Results

More than half of the 132 statements generated by students were rated as school environment characteristics highly important for the initiation, cessation, and/or severity of school violence. Participants identified students' own actions, expectations for disruptive behavior, and the environment outside the school as characteristics most important for the initiation and increased severity of violence that occurs in school. Participants had a more difficult time identifying school environment characteristics important for the cessation of school violence.

Conclusion

This study provides support from students for the role of the school environment in school violence prevention, particularly in preventing the initiation and reducing the severity of school violence. Schools can utilize the information presented in this paper to begin discussions with students and staff about prioritizing school environment changes to reduce school violence.


Subjects:
[+]
Adolescent Adolescent Behavior African Americans Article Baltimore Concept Formation Concept Mapping Female Health Priorities Humans Intervention Male School Environment Schools School Violence Social Environment Students Violence
Source:
J Sch Health. 81(6):331-340.
Pubmed ID:
21592128
Pubmed Central ID:
PMC4697272
Document Type:
Journal Article
Funding:
R36 CE001374/CE/NCIPC CDC HHS/United States
Collection(s):
CDC Public Access
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:c7643eb6c5b9ec18999ed7b6b05b59cb72c27936fa35e9b4bdaea5eb224d0124
Download URL:
https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/37149/cdc_37149_DS1.pdf
File Type:

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