Predictors of School Violence Perpetration and Victimization: Effects of Drug Use and Sociodemographic Characteristics

AbstractA randomized controlled trial was conducted with 6391 7th- and 8th-grade students in 72 public schools in six Brazilian cities. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed to create a unidimensional model for validity. Linear regression was used to evaluate how baseline past-month drug use, violence, and sociodemographic characteristics affected violence at follow-up. The results showed that previous involvement in violent episodes at school (β = 0.397,p <  0.001) as well as the use of inhalants at baseline (β = 0.358,p = 0.026) predicted higher levels of violence 9 months after baseline. Additionally, girls showed lower levels of involvement in violence than boys (β = −0.144,p <  0.001). School prevention programs and policies should simultaneously address drug use and violence. Inhalant use seems to act as a proxy of future involvement in school violence, independent of previous involvement in violent episodes. Trial registration: RebEC, RBR-4mnv5g. Registered 3 July 201 4,http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-4mnv5g/.
Source: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction - Category: Addiction Source Type: research