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School Connectedness, Anger Behaviors, and Relationships of Violent and Nonviolent American Youth
Author(s) -
Thomas Sandra P.,
Smith Helen
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
perspectives in psychiatric care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.538
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1744-6163
pISSN - 0031-5990
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-6163.2004.tb00011.x
Subject(s) - anger , loneliness , psychology , social connectedness , mental health , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , alienation , anger management , suicide prevention , interpersonal communication , poison control , social psychology , psychiatry , medicine , political science , law , environmental health
PROBLEM. Youth violence research often focuses on risk factors arising from early familial interactions rather than school‐related factors. METHODS. Via an Internet questionnaire, 282 girls and boys (ages 7–19, mean 15.3) from 47 states and Washington, DC, reported on school connectedness, interpersonal relationships, and anger behaviors. FINDINGS. Substantial percentages of violent youth did not perceive themselves to be liked by classmates and reported loneliness. If not liked by classmates, 80% hated school. Likers and haters of school differed on seven variables (all p≤.01). CONCLUSIONS. Insufficient attention is paid to the alienation experienced by disliked and lonely students. Mental health nurses could play a pivotal role in fostering change in the social climate of schools and helping youth to achieve better anger management and social skills.