1. AMONG ADOLESCENTS FROM A DEVELOPING COUNTRY:
AN EXPLORATORY STUDY
DR. MUNNI RAY
INDIA

2. Conflict is a natural part of relating to others
A conflict between two individuals that results in physical altercation is violence
Nonphysical acts such as threats, name calling, harassment or stalking are also violent acts
It is the act of purposefully hurting someone

3. Why do people commit violent acts?
Expression : release feelings of anger or frustration
Manipulation: way to control others or to get something one wants
Retaliation: retaliate against those who have hurt them
Learned behavior

4. “Understudied area among adolescents in India”
As a consequence of exposure to violence, young people are at increased risk of experiencing a myriad of disturbing psychological symptoms
“Understudied area among adolescents in India”

6. Aims and Objectives
To assess the extent of exposure to violence among school going adolescents.
To assess the sociodemographic correlates of exposure to violence
To study the psychosocial adjustments of adolescents exposed to violence

7. Methodology Prospective study Cross sectional Survey design
Self report questionnaire used
Subjects:
1500 students from 10 government schools
High school students (VIII to XII grades)
School year
Preadolescent adjustment inventory used to assess the psychosocial adjustment of adolescents

8. Methodology
Research worker asked the questions in a sensitive manner and the adolescents were ensured confidentiality
All students attending school on the day of interview were included
Pilot testing
The questionnaire was divided into 2 parts:
Assessment of Sociodemographic Profile
Assessment of Recent exposure to violence

9. Questionnaire

10. Methodology Recent exposure to violence: Past one year
The students were asked to report violence
they had experienced or witnessed personally
only what they had seen and heard and not events reported to them by others or seen on the television
only “non play situations”
Details of the type, nature, setting and frequency of each event was enquired
Frequency: 5 point scale
Very often, often, sometimes, rarely,never

11. Preadolescent Adjustment Inventory

12. Ethical consideration
Consent was obtained from the principals of each school and an interview time of 20 mins. per student on usual working hours was taken
Informed written consent was obtained from the parents and / or students
Ethical clearance from Ethics committee of PGIMER, Chandigarh

13. Results

14. Demographic profile of study sample
Mean age 15±1.67 yrs.
Gender
Male 52.6%
Female 47.4%
Staying with
Both parents 92.3%
Mother only 4%
Father only 1.6%
Alone 2.1%
Family structure
Nuclear 83.5%
Joint 16.5%

16. No. of parents
<V
VI-X
XI-XII
Graduate
Postgraduate

17. Distribution of adolescents according to their academic performance

18. Media viewing habits 98.7% of adolescents watched television regularly
Only 18.7% viewed for more than 2hrs. Daily
72% liked and watched thriller, horror and action shows
Boys liked these shows more than girls
15% adolescents did net surfing primarily for entertainment purposes

19. Assessment of adjustment scores of 1500 students
They were most adjusted to home followed by peers
Adjustment with teachers and school were least
Only 6% of the students confided upon the teachers
The boys trusted their friends more than girls who trusted their parents to share their worries
Vague somatic symptoms were experienced by 20%

20. The different types of violence witnessed by the adolescents
Type of violence
Number
Percentage
PHYSICAL FIGHT
737
71.55%
Slaps
408
Punches
250
Kicks 78
Pinches 1
FIGHT WITH OBJECTS
293
27.98%
8 out of 10 adolescents had witnessed someone being verbally put down or bullied at school, home or neighborhood

21. WITNESSING VIOLENCE USING DIFFERENT WEAPONS

24. Recent exposure of violence was at

25. Significant demographic correlates of adolescents who have witnessed violence
Males witnessed violence significantly more than females (p<0.01)
Adolescents with poorer academic performance witnessed violence more than those who had higher grades (p<0.01)
Parents of children who witnessed violence had a lower educational profile than those who did not (p<0.01)

26. Comparison of adjustment scores of adolescents who have and have not witnessed violence
*** ** **
*** **
*p 0.05
**p  0.01
***p0.001

27. Victims of violence
27% of the respondents were victims of at least one of the violent acts
7% of the adolescents were victimized significantly so that they were bruised or injured

28. Victims of violence
Twenty percent of the adolescents were victimized by parents and their teachers
Reasons cited for victimization were primarily scholastic, indiscipline and defiance and not performing household chores
Forty percent of adolescents who got corporal punishment received it often

29. Serious forms of victimization of study sample
7% of the adolescents who were victimized seriously in the past year were by classmates, schoolmates and friends
Reasons cited were fight over money, fight over girls, response to verbal abuse etc.
6 of the adolescents were threatened to be hurt grievously
4 adolescents were found to carry weapons for self protection
Five percent of the students are bullied at school

30. Correlates of victimization
Physical victimization was more in case of boys than girls
Girls were bullied more often than boys
Younger children were victimized more often than older
Academic performance was also lower for the victims of violence
Socioeconomic variability had no bearing on victimization
Overall adjustment scores of children who were victims were much lower than those who are not victimized.
Adolescents who received corporal punishment had poor adjustment scales at home , school and with teachers

31. Perpetrators of violence
13% of adolescents surveyed disclosed violent behavior
20% of them bullied others
Most of these violent altercations have occurred in schools (74%)
7% of the perpetrators used weapons to inflict injury
The perpetrators were the ones who enjoyed seeing violent shows for longer durations. (p0.001)
Boys reported higher rates of violence towards others than girls.(p0.001)
34% of the adolescents engaged in violence often
Older adolescents were more likely to be perpetrators than those <16yrs. (p0.05)
Perpetrators also had poorer academic performance.(p0.001)
Adjustment with school, teacher and overall were poor but they were well adjusted to their peers.

32. Violence is a global issue
Conclusions
Violence is a global issue

33. Conclusions Youth violence involvement is a complex construct
multiple settings
multiple forms
Frequency of violence at school is alarming
School is just a microcosm of our entire society
Less severe nature of violence:
Less availability of firearms
Role of media
Bullying
Parenting
Socioeconomic background

34. Conclusions Impact of violence is universal and detrimental
Exposure to violence and victimization are strongly associated with subsequent acts of violence by the victim
68% of the adolescents who had somatic symptoms were witnesses
Academic performance was poorer in the adolescents who had violence exposure
Adolescents who were witness, victim or perpetrators of violence had lower adjustment scores

35. TAKE A STAND AGAINST VIOLENCE
RECOGNIZE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM
INSTITUTE VIOLENCE PREVENTIVE STRATEGIES

36. Violence free school environment

37. Department of Science and Technology
Acknowledgement :
Department of Science and Technology
Chandigarh, India

38. Thank you