Violence Youth violence is an important public health problem: - In 2003, 5,570 young people ages 10 to 24 were murdered. 99
- In 2004, more than 750,000 young people ages 10 to 24 were treated in emergency rooms as a result of injuries caused by violence. 100
- In a nationwide survey of high school students, one-third reported being in a fight one or more times in the previous year, and one in six reported carrying a weapon at least once in the previous 30 days. 101
- It is estimated that nearly one-third (30%) of 6th to 10th graders have been bullied, been a bully, or both. 102
About six out of every one hundred high school students told one national survey that, in the 30 days leading up to the survey, they had skipped school at least one day because they did not feel safe at school. 103 The research into what helps protect young people from getting involved in violence is fairly new. But it appears that youth are less likely to get involved in violence if they: 104 - Would consider themselves an honest person, usually not acting in dishonest ways;
- Do not have attitudes that are often angry towards other people or authority figures, like police;
- Do not generally approve of violence;
- Have parents who are involved in their lives;
- Have parents who set clear expectations for how they behave;
- Have parents who supervise and keep track of what they do;
- Do well in school; and
- Feel "connected" to their school, like being involved in school activities.
This Web site, http://safeyouth.org/scripts/index.asp, is a very good resource and includes a site just for parents. One type of violence is dating violence. About one in ten high school students get involved in a relationship that involves some type of violence. Check out Dating Violence to see how parents can help protect their children. Last revised: May 28, 2008 | 
