NCJ Number
221923
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 18 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2003 Pages: 553-571
Date Published
May 2003
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study identified a set of risk and prevention factors related to interpersonal violence on a college campus and developed a measure of the risk for campus violence.
Abstract
The risk and prevention factors identified are in found in three general scenarios: situation-specific patterns of violence; private, emotional fights; and alcohol-related fights. Situation-specific patterns of violence pertain to public fights with strangers. Males are at higher risk for such episodes than females. Private, emotional fights tend to occur among family or friends, and females are as likely as males to engage in fighting in close relationships. Alcohol-related fights tend to occur in a drinking setting and involve a population that is both more likely to be intoxicated and to be violent. Related factors associated with such groups are increased stress from poor academic performance, role conflicts due to alcohol use, and potential legal or disciplinary involvement. The risk for violence on campus is heightened by the frequency of the aforementioned scenarios, and violence can be prevented by addressing the scenarios in which violence erupts. This study developed items related to the Risk for Frequency of Fighting (RFF) and Violence Prevention Practices (VPP) Scales. By administering these instruments to appropriate samples of students on a specific campus, the risk for violence can be determined and targets for prevention efforts can be identified. This study involved 451 college students on 2 campuses. The usefulness of the RFF and the VPP was tested with this sample. 4 tables and 31 references