YOUTHS' VICTIMIZATION EXPERIENCES, FEAR OF ATTACK OR HARM, AND SCHOOL AVOIDANCE BEHAVIORS: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

• NCJ Number: 143997
• Author(s): C Ringwalt; P Messerschmidt; L Graham; J Collins
• Date Published: 1992
• Length: 13 pages
• Grant Number(s): 91-BJ-CX-0002
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Survey

Annotation

This study used data from the School Crime Supplement to the 1989 National Crime Survey to examine the relationship among juveniles' victimization experiences at school and elsewhere, fear of attack or harm at or on the way to or from school, and school avoidance behaviors.

Abstract

The survey revealed that generally, most youths do not perceive fear of attack or harm to be a pressing problem, and most do not avoid sites at or near school as a consequence. Youth who do exhibit school avoidance behaviors tend to come from relatively poor families, live in inner cities, attend public schools, and are enrolled in the initial grades of middle school. They are likely to have recently been personally victimized by violence, either at school or elsewhere, and by larceny (although only at school); they are also likely to have family members who have themselves been victimized. Males were no more likely than females to exhibit avoidance behaviors; nor were they likely to come from any particular ethnic background. Because of the cross-sectional nature of the data used and because the model examined was incomplete, the researchers conclude they were able to make only a modest contribution to the understanding of the determinants of school-avoidance behaviors. Although such behaviors are uncommon, the researchers advise that schools should identify and allay the concerns of the youth who are afraid of victimization. A 27-item bibliography