A Study of the School-based Adolescent Violence

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: School-based violence among adolescents is a serious public health problem. Recently, it seems to spread and intensify. We were trying to investigate the information about adolescent's experience, witness and perception in violence, thus to offer the data for appropriate violence prevention methods on our circumstance. METHODS: During July, 1996, 3,794 middle or high school students in the metropolitan area of Korea were surveyed. The self-administered questionnaires made with multiple choice system were given and writing names was not required. From the questionnaire, we obtained the information of violence experience, witness, frequency, time, place, kind, assailant, counselor, outcome, feeling, preparation, cause, motive and prevention. RESULTS: 1) Reports show that at least one in four students have been a victim of violence in or around school. Twenty-five percent has been a victim of repeated violence. One in three students has witnessed violence. Generally boys experienced and witnessed more than girls. Middle school students experienced more than high school students. 2) The characteristics of school-based violence in the metropolian area of Korea-after school, on the street-by the students of other school whom they don't know-to be stolen money-no serious outcome-to feel like revenge after violence -to counsel with friends - to work with other friends for prevention of violence. 3) The perception of the actual state of school-based violence was- it is serious. - the most common motive was to feel like to have money or things. - the common fundamental causes were the wrong educational system and the parent's indifference. - the preventive methods were to change the wrong educational system and parent's positive interest. 4) A lot of repeated school-based violence were occurred in the school. The more frequent violence was, the more severe physical and psychological injury was and the more active preventive methods were. CONCLUSIONS: School-based violence among adolescents in the metropolitan area of Korea spreads widely and intensifies more. Thus, immediately the concrete countermeasure for school-based violence is necessary.