Prevalence and Predictors of Violence Victimization and Violent Behavior among Youths: A Population-Based Study in Serbia

Biljana Obradovic-Tomasevic, Milena Santric-Milicevic, Vladimir Vasic, Dejana Vukovic, Sandra Sipetic-Grujicic, Vesna Bjegovic-Mikanovic, Zorica Terzic-Supic, Ratko Tomasevic, Jovana Todorovic and Uros Babic
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Biljana Obradovic-Tomasevic: Clinical Hospital Center Zemun, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Milena Santric-Milicevic: Institute of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Vladimir Vasic: Department of Statistics and Mathematics, Faculty of Economics, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Dejana Vukovic: Institute of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Sandra Sipetic-Grujicic: Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Vesna Bjegovic-Mikanovic: Institute of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Zorica Terzic-Supic: Institute of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Ratko Tomasevic: Clinical Hospital Center Zemun, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Jovana Todorovic: Institute of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Uros Babic: Clinical Center of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 17, 1-18

Abstract: The study identifies the prevalence of violence victimization and the perpetration among youths, and explores the determinants and predictors using a socio-ecological model. The data of 36 variables from a representative sample of 1722 persons, ages 15–24 years, from the National Health Survey of Serbia in 2013, were analyzed by a multivariate logistic regression modeling. The study shows that 13.4% of youths experienced multi-victimization, while 10.4% were perpetrators of violence. Up to one-third of the victims were violence perpetrators. A small percentage of victims seek family and community support. Predictors of violence among youths were: male sex, households with fewer members, urban settlements, violence perpetration, self-assessed health as poor, lack of close friends and perception that it was difficult to obtain the assistance needed. Predictors of youth violence highlighted the need to improve health education, social support and community regulations, as well as strengthen the promotion of gender equality and a healthy environment.

Keywords: youth; violence victimization; prevalence; socio-ecological model; health education; violence prevention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:17:p:3203-:d:263348

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