Weapon violence in adolescence: Parent and school connectedness as protective factors

Citation

Henrich, C. C.; Brookmeyer, K. A.; & Shahar, G. (2005). Weapon violence in adolescence: Parent and school connectedness as protective factors. Journal of Adolescent Health. vol. 37 (4) pp. 306-312

Abstract

Purpose

Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), we investigated weapon violence involving violence exposure and commission, as well as the protective roles of parent and school connectedness over time.
Methods

Adolescents from Add Health’s core sample (N = 7033) were followed for one year over two waves of measurement.
Results

Consistent with hypotheses, violence exposure and violence commission uniquely predicted each other over time. Also, adolescents who were more connected with their parents were less likely to commit weapon violence over time, and adolescents who were more connected to school were less likely to be exposed to weapon violence over time. However, neither domain of connectedness buffered adolescents from the effects of violence exposure on committing violence. Further, parent and school connectedness seemed to have more power as preventive rather than as mitigating factors in relation to weapon violence.
Conclusion

Further research using a broader array of violence measures may reveal additional processes through which protective factors can help sever the link between weapon violence exposure and commission.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2005.03.022

Keyword(s)

School

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Journal of Adolescent Health

Author(s)

Henrich, C. C.
Brookmeyer, K. A.
Shahar, G.

Year Published

2005

Volume Number

37

Issue Number

4

Pages

306-312

ISSN/ISBN

1054-139X

DOI

10.1016/j.jadohealth.2005.03.022

Reference ID

454