Juvenile Violence in the Americas: Innovative Studies in Research, Diagnosis and Prevention

• NCJ Number: 196538
• Author(s): Alfred McAlister Ph.D.
• Date Published: September 1998
• Length: 79 pages
• Corporate Author: Pan American Health Organization
• Sale Source: Pan American Health Organization
• Publication Format: Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: Spanish; English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Downloaded on August 23, 2002. Report written in both English and Spanish.

Annotation

In recognizing that youth violence is one of the most urgent threats to public health and safety in the Americas, this report offers a brief review of the literature on violence among children and youth, research on those factors associated with violence, a framework for understanding the prevention of violence, the theoretical model, and prevention research.

Abstract

In response to the threat posed by youth violence to public health and safety in the Americas (South America, Latin America, and North America), the Pan American Health Organization has begun developing programs to address the problem of youth aggression and intentional injury. In addition, the scope of inquiry into the causes and control of violence is being broadened. This report has five focus points beginning with a brief review of the literature on violence among children and youth. Research on factors associated with violence are then presented and organized by age groups and settings. Environmental factors contributing to violence are examined, as well as the role of mass media. Offering a framework for understanding prevention, a theoretical model is presented identifying the factors and processes that lead to and follow from violence. The final focus point is a review of prevention research in families, schools, and communities based on the components of the theoretical model. Child and youth violence can be understood and possibly prevented through theoretical concepts and principles. The literature reviewed demonstrated that contributions to the prevention of youth violence could be achieved through several distinct approaches, including policies and environmental changes to reduce access to instruments of deadly response such as guns. In addition, violence could be prevented by efforts to improve quality of life, schooling, and employment opportunities. School-based and community-level parenting education and communication to change attitudes and teach skills among both youth and adults may also have positive effects in violence prevention. The public health approach to violence prevention emphasizes the combination of multiple strategies in whole populations.