Trends in children's exposure to violence, 2003-2011.
Date
2014
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
JAMA Pediatrics
Abstract
The study suggests that years of public policy designed to reduce the burden of violence and victimization among youths is having some success. To identify trends in children’s exposure to violence, crime, and abuse from 2003 through 2011. Three national telephone surveys of representative samples of children and caregivers from 2003, 2008, and 2011 were compared, all obtained using the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire; samples included parents of children 2 to 9 years old and youth 10 to 17 years old. Direct and indirect experiences of violence, abuse, and victimization during the previous year. Change in rates between 2003 and 2011 and between 2008 and 2011. Of 50 trends in exposure examined, there were 27 significant declines and no significant increases between 2003 and 2011. Declines were particularly large for assault
victimization, bullying, and sexual victimization. There were also significant declines in the
perpetration of violence and property crime. For the recession period between 2008 and
2011, there were 11 significant declines and no increases for 50 specific trends examined.
Dating violence declined, as did one form of sexual victimization and some forms of indirect exposure. Victimization surveys with general population samples confirm patterns seen in police data and adult surveys. Crime and violence have been declining in the child and youth population as well
Description
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Article
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Keywords
exposure to violence, statistics, survey, poly-victimization
Citation
Finkelhor, D., Shattuck, A.,Turner, H. A., & Hamby, S. L. (2014).Trends in children's exposure to violence, 2003-2011. JAMA Pediatrics, 168(6), 540-546.