RISK FACTORS OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR AMONG ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Abstract

The primary goal of this research was to ascertain which risk factors could serve as the most precise predictors of violent behaviour among elementary and high-school students. The research was conducted on a sample of 1209 students, between thirteen and seventeen years old, in five cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The risk factors assessment was done by means of SAVRY (Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth), a tool used for gauging the levels of risk factors. With the help of the SPSS 12.0 Statistical Procedures Companion, the collected data was processed by employing regression analysis. The results indicate that the onset of violent behaviour, academic success, inability to concentrate, alcohol abuse, history of domestic violence, as well as parental separation, are the main predictors of violent behaviour  among  the aforementioned category of students. These results form a solid foundation for future planning of treatments and activities with a goal to prevent such behaviour.