Exposure to Violence and Its Sociodemographic Correlates in a Sample of Turkish Adolescents in Samsun City Center

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and forms of violence in the family and in the community against adolescents living in Samsun city center, and perpetrators as perceived by adolescents, the determinants of violence, the consequences and the coping mechanisms that adolescents adopt. Material and Methods: A cross- sectional study was conducted between September 15 and October 15, 2005, in high school students in Samsun city center. The study sample comprised of 1415 randomly selected 9th through 11th grade students attending 10 randomly selected high schools. A self-report survey questionnaire, prepared by the researchers was administered in the classroom in the presence of the guidance counselor and classroom teacher. Results: The prevalence of exposure to violence in the family and in the community was found as 5.9% and 4.1%, respectively. The students living in a nuclear family reported the lowest ratio of exposure to violence (5.2%). Illiterate, alcohol using and conflicting parents and unemployed fathers were more likely than the others to apply violence towards their children. Of the participants, 44.6% reported that the perpetrators of the violence in the family were their fathers. In logistic regression analysis, male gender, single parent family type, illiterate, unemployed and alcohol using father and marital conflict between parents were found to be the risk factors for exposure to both domestic and community violence. Conclusion: To initiate educational activities such as workshops, seminars, and conferences may increase awareness of different patterns of violence in the family and in the community, as well as the risks and consequences of such violence.