Psychosocial Correlates of Violence over 8 Years

Authors

  • M. G. Matos University of Lisbon
  • M. Carvalho ISMAT Department of Psychology, Portugal; Mental Health Department of CHBA, Portugal
  • Social Adventure Project Team

Keywords:

Violence, Adolescents, Psychosocial Factors, Emotional Problems, Trends

Abstract

This study aimed at identifying the prevalence of emotional problems and bullying behavior among children and adolescents in Portugal. Gender, developmental aspects, their psychosocial determinants, and the time trends over 8 years were also explored. The three waves of a cross-sectional survey obtained from the HBSC nationally representative samples of 10-17 year old children and adolescents in 1998, 2002, and 2006, were used. Specific composite indexes included emotional and somatic symptoms, involvement in violence, either as a perpetrator and/or a victim,, demographic and psychosocial factors and neighborhood. Girls reported more emotional symptoms, and boys reported more bullying behavior. Emotional symptoms increased with age, in contrast bullying behavior, school commitment and perception of safe neighborhood decreased with age. With age, the communication with the family tends to become more difficult, while communication with the friends tends to become easier. Along the three waves, bullying behavior has shown a decrease (from 2002 to 2006) and emotional symptoms have shown a general pattern of decrease. Results were discussed according to literature and their consequences for the understanding of emotional problems and bullying behavior in childhood and adolescence. Mental health and wellbeing promotion include both the prevention of emotional problems and bullying behavior; determinants include individual factors and a range of psychosocial factors. Mental health problems have a huge impact on adolescents’ well-being; however it is often a poorer area of intervention in school based interventions. Gender differences are highlighted.

 

Author Biographies

M. G. Matos, University of Lisbon

Full Professor

Psychologist

Education, Humanities and Social Sciences Department

M. Carvalho, ISMAT Department of Psychology, Portugal; Mental Health Department of CHBA, Portugal

Mental health Department

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Published

2014-04-15

How to Cite

Matos, M. G., Carvalho, M., & Project Team, S. A. (2014). Psychosocial Correlates of Violence over 8 Years. Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies, 2(2). Retrieved from https://www.ajouronline.com/index.php/AJHSS/article/view/1003

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2014): April 2014

Section

Articles

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