Correlates of Peer Violence Among 13- to 15-Year-Olds in Gampaha District Schools in Sri Lanka

Monika Priyadarshani Wijeratne, Rohini Seneviratne, Nalika Gunawardena, Catherine Lynch, Ingvild Fossgard Sandøy and Truls Ostbye

SAGE Open, 2014, vol. 4, issue 3, 2158244014550616

Abstract: Violence among adolescents in schools is a relatively new research area in South Asian countries. Limited knowledge about factors associated with peer violence hinders the design of prevention programs. This study was carried out to assess correlates of peer violence among 13- to 15-year-old adolescents in Gampaha district schools in Sri Lanka. A cross-sectional study was carried out to identify “violent†and “non-violent†adolescents. Study and control populations were identified based on their participatory roles in violence, and an unmatched case–control (1 case: 1 control) analysis was carried out to assess correlates of peer violence. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model was used, and correlates were determined for both physical and relational (verbal and non-verbal) violence. Correlates of both physical and relational peer violence were male sex, being 13 years of age, mental health difficulties, dating relationships, school absenteeism, witnessing physical fights among neighbors, and crime-dense residence. Factors associated with peer violence operate at several levels: individual, family/peer relationships, community, and societal. Most of these factors are modifiable and can be targeted by prevention programs.

Keywords: correlates; adolescents; peer violence; physical violence; relational violence; ecological model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:sagope:v:4:y:2014:i:3:p:2158244014550616

DOI: 10.1177/2158244014550616

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