School Connectedness and Feelings of Safety among Adolescent Victims of Dating Violence at School

Background and Purpose: While dating violence is recognized as a serious and pervasive problem among adolescents, few studies have evaluated the occurrence of dating violence at schools. Yet, such information is critical for understanding and preventing dating violence since schools are a central location for adolescent peer interaction and socialization (Valois et al., 2002). At schools, adolescents spend several days a week in close proximity to dating partners and friends with numerous opportunities to interact between and during classes, at lunchtime, or before and after school. Beyond providing regular opportunities for contact among students, schools also might play a critical role in preventing dating violence. A growing body of research highlights the role of students' feelings about school and school connectedness as protective factors against victimization. For example, Valois et al. (2002) describe how less attachment and commitment to school predicts later violent behavior while Skiba et al. (2004) show the importance of assessing school connection in combination with students' perceptions of safety in order to fully understand adolescent violence.

Methods: Almost 2,000 students (n=1,967) enrolled at five high schools and seven middle schools in the Southeastern United States voluntarily completed a comprehensive survey about their experiences with school violence, their feelings of safety at school, and their feelings about school generally. Student responses, demographic and descriptive characteristics were compared using Pearson's Chi-square and analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests with a Bonferroni adjustment for multiple comparisons.

Results: Approximately 16.2% of students (n=318) reported experiencing physical dating violence at school at least once during the school year while another 72 students (3.7%) experienced it at least weekly. Male and ethnic minority students reported more victimization. There were no differences in school connectedness and feelings of safety between those students reporting dating violence weekly and those reporting that it happens occasionally. Yet, compared to non-victims, students who experienced any dating violence at school have less school connectedness [F = 16.7(2,1917), p < .001], feel less safe at school [F = 14.9(2,1964), p < .001], and are more likely to have experienced other forms of school violence and conflict.

Conclusions and Implications: This study's results support that dating violence is a serious and common occurrence at schools. The lack of differences between those victimized occasionally and those victimized weekly is noteworthy. Rather than a cumulative effect resulting from repeated victimization, this finding suggests that feelings of school connectedness might be negatively impacted by any experience of physical dating violence. Moreover, the relationship of dating violence to other forms of violence indicates that some students might operate in environments and social circles wherein violence is more normal and acceptable. Preventive interventions then should extend beyond just dating violent teens and include all students at school. Such school-wide interventions aimed at promoting communication and conflict resolution skills should be developed with consideration of the relationship of dating violence to school connectedness and students' perceptions of safety.

References: Skiba,R., Simmons,A.B., Peterson,R., McKelvey,J., Forde,S., & Gallini,S. (2004). Beyond guns,drugs,and gangs: The structure of student perceptions of school safety. Journal of School Violence,3,149-171.

Valois,R.F., MacDonald,J.M., Bretous,L., Fischer,M.A., & Drane,J.W. (2002). Risk factors and behaviors associated with adolescent violence and aggression. American Journal of Health Behavior,26,454-464.