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

Findings From a Comparison Between Violent and Non-Violent Adolescents

Bibliographic Data

ID3347538
AuthorsMonika Priyadarshani Wijeratne (0000-0003-3816-0862, Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine), Rohini Seneviratne, Rohini De Alwis Seneviratne (0000-0001-7223-3477, University of Colombo), Nalika Gunawardena (0000-0003-0193-7498, University of Colombo), Catherine Lynch (0000-0002-6478-2561, Duke University), Ingvild Fossgard Sandøy (0000-0001-5567-4588, University of Bergen), Truls Østbye (0000-0002-0662-7440, Duke University)
Year2014
Volume4
Issue3
Publication date2014-07-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSAGE Open (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2158-2440 • E-ISSN: 2158-2440
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/2158244014550616
OpenAlexW2266071844
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited28

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

Adolescent health · Developmental psychology · Domestic violence · Environmental health · Peer group · Poison control · Residence · Sociology · Suicide prevention · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression · Demography · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology

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