Parents and teachers as violence risk-indicators

Abstract

The analysis of the results of a questionnaire based study carried out among 5,149 14-15 year old adolescents from four countries (Germany, Slovenia, Spain and Austria) in Spring 2009 has revealed that a strong correlation exists between the three forms of adult violence investigated in the study - “physical abuse ofyoungsters in a family environment”, “violence between the parents” and “verbal abuse from teachers” - and the usage ofviolence by adolescents. The use of physical violence by adolescents can thus be rarely understood as being primarily the result of a sudden violent “explosion” in the school or during adolescents’ free time. It can instead be better understood in the context of the gradual acquisition ofviolent behavioural patterns as part of a complex and multifactorial process in the course of which adolescents become socialised in violence and violent behaviour. This is especially the case in the context ofviolence carried out by adults. It can furthermore not be assumed that the environment in which adolescents are identified as having socialisation deficits is invariably the same as that in which these problems first arise.

Key words: Risk-indicator; domestic violence; physical abuse of youngsters in a family environment; verbal agression from teachers; violence; adolescents.