Identification of Risk Factors Determining Attitude Towards Violence among High School Students: A Study in Schools of Trivandrum Corporation, Kerala

The World Health Organization defines Violence as “the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community that either result in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, mal-development or deprivation”. Violence has a worldwide occurrence and hence India is no exception³ The incidence of violence in India is increasing day by day to an alarming rate, especially among children of adolescent age. Every day the media brings incidents of violence involving children. The incidence of violence in the state of Kerala also is on the rise. This study was aimed to identify the risk factors which influence the Attitude of high school children towards violence. A total of 1798 participants from 20 schools of Trivandrum Corporation were studied. We indentified family atmosphere, class room environment, personality factors, influence of gangs and the influence of television as risk factors as contributing to the development of Attitude towards violence among the participants studied.