Research suggests support systems at home and in school curb teen violence

Programs for troubled youth specializing in violence prevention might assist in decreasing aggression, studies show.

A recent study from the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center shows that teens who smoke or consume alcohol are typically major players in promoting violence. Depression is another leading cause of fighting amongst teens. According to PBS, almost 4 percent of teens develop serious depression each year in the U.S.

The study suggests parents who take a proactive role in their children’s lives can help deter them from violence. Young people who participated in the study said that if they felt support from at least one person in school or at home they were less likely to fight. Enrolling them in after-school programs or schools for troubled teens can help alleviate the causes of their aggression.

Expecting teens to be successful and encouraging them can play a very important role in preventing fighting, one researcher said. The results also suggested that both family and school support are potentially important for troubled teens.

Teen violence is a major problem throughout the U.S. Approximately one out of three high school students are involved in a fight each year, while homicide is the second-leading cause of death among teens and young adults.