Correlation between different experiences of intrafamilial physical violence and violent adolescent behavior

This research examined the relationship between different experiences of family physical violence and the violent behaviors of attempted suicide, fighting, and gun-carrying at school among 133,794 adolescents in Minnesota public schools. Levels of violence against self and others were compared for male and female youth reporting the following family histories: (a) both direct victim of physical violence and witnessing physical violence, (b) only direct victim of physical violence, (c) only witnessing physical violence, and(d) neither direct victim of physical violence nor witnessing physical violence. Any experience of familial physical violence was significantly associated with increased levels of violence toward self and others.