Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Analyzing Children’s Perception of Violence Through Their Writing

  • ORIGINAL ARTICLE
  • Published:
Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Direct exposure to violence affects approximately three out of every five children in America. Using data available from the “Do the Write Thing” (DtWT) Challenge, this study explored children’s views of violence using 1,165 essays written by students from 13 middle schools in nine districts within Region V of Texas. Data analysis from students’ writing found that students wrote more about bullying than other forms of violence. Most children identified themselves as indirect observers or witnesses rather than victims or perpetrators during such instances of bullying. Pairing the anti-bullying campaigns with violence prevention programs could better inform and educate students about the risks and consequences of violence, particularly as they move into late adolescence and adulthood.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baumeister, R. F., & Newman, L. S. (1994). How stories make sense of personal experiences: Motives that shape autobiographical narratives. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 20(6), 676–690.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Besa, D. (1994). Evaluating narrative family therapy using single-system research designs. Research on Social Work Practice, 4(3), 309–325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bohanek, J. G., & Fivush, R. (2010). Personal narratives, well-being, and gender in adolescence. Cognitive Development, 25(4), 368–379. doi:10.1016/j.cogdev.2010.08.003.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Brewin, C. R., & Lennard, H. (1999). Effects of mode of writing on emotional narratives. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 12(2), 355–361. doi:10.1023/A:1024736828322.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buckley, H., Holt, S., Whelan, S., Buckley, H., Holt, S., & Whelan, S. (2007). Listen to me! Children's experiences of domestic violence. Child Abuse Review, 16(5), 296–310. doi:10.1002/car.995.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Children's Safety Network (2011). Preventing bullying: The role of public health and safety professionals. Retrieved from http://www.childrenssafetynetwork.org/sites/childrenssafetynetwork.org/files/PreventingBullyingRolePublicHealthSafetyProfessionals.pdf.

  • Combs, G., & Freedman, J. (2012). Narrative, poststructuralism, and social justice. The Counseling Psychologist, 40(7), 1033–1060. doi:10.1177/0011000012460662.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook, A., Liautaud, J., Mallah, K., Olafson, E., van der Kolk, B., Spinazzola, J., et al. (2005). Complex trauma in children and adolescents. Psychiatric Annals, 35(5), 390–398.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Etchison, M., & Kleist, D. M. (2000). Review of narrative therapy: Research and utility. The Family Journal, 8(1), 61–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finkelhor, D., Ormrod, R. K., & Turner, H. A. (2007). Poly-victimization: A neglected component in child victimization. Child Abuse & Neglect, 31(1), 7–26. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2006.06.008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finkelhor, D., Turner, H. A., & Hamby, S. (2012). Let's prevent peer victimization, not just bullying. Child Abuse & Neglect, 36(4), 271–274. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2011.12.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finkelhor, D., Turner, H., Ormrod, R., Hamby, S., & Kracke, K. (2009). Children's exposure to violence: A comprehensive national survey. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, D. (2006). Responding to students who disclose the violence in their lives. English Journal, 95(6), 65–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geil, D. M. M. (1998). Collaborative reasoning: Evidence for collective rationality. Thinking & Reasoning, 4(3), 231–248.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldbaum, S., Craig, W. M., Pepler, D., & Connolly, J. (2003). Developmental trajectories of victimization: Identifying risk and protective factors. Journal of Applied School Psychology, 19(2), 139–156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gortner, E., Rude, S. S., & Pennebaker, J. W. (2006). Benefits of expressive writing in lowering rumination and depressive symptoms. Behavior Therapy, 37(3), 292–303. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2006.01.004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Green, S. B., & Salkind, N. J. (2011). Using SPSS for windows and Macintosh: Analyzing and understanding data (6th ed.). Boston: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, W. W., Lieberman, A. F., & Marans, S. (2007). In the best interests of society. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 48(3–4), 392–411. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2007.01732.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hepworth, D., Rooney, R., Dewberry Rooney, G., Strom-Gottfried, K., & Larsen, J. A. (2013). Direct social work practice: Theory and skills. Belmont: Cengage Learning.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holden, G. W. (2003). Children exposed to domestic violence and child abuse: Terminology and taxonomy. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 6(3), 151–160. doi:10.1023/A:1024906315255.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Howard, M. O., Allen-Meares, P., & Ruffolo, M. C. (2007). Teaching evidence-based practice: Strategic and pedagogical recommendations for schools of social work. Research on Social Work Practice, 17(5), 561–568.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hudd, S. S., Bronson, E. F., & Bronson, E. F. (2007). Moving forward looking backward: An exercise in recursive thinking and writing. Teaching Sociology, 35(3), 264–273. doi:10.1177/0092055X0703500305.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • James, V. H., & Owens, L. D. (2005). ‘They turned around like I wasn’t there’: An analysis of teenage girls’ letters about their peer conflicts. School Psychology International, 26(1), 71–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kagitcibasi, C. (2013). Family, self, and human development across cultures: Theory and applications. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman, J. S., Ortega, S., Schewe, P. A., & Kracke, K. (2011). Characteristics of young children exposed to violence: The safe start demonstration project. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 26(10), 2042–2072. doi:10.1177/0886260510372942.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kilpatrick, D. G., Acierno, R., Saunders, B., Resnick, H. S., Best, C. L., & Schnurr, P. P. (2000). Risk factors for adolescent substance abuse and dependence: Data from a national sample. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68(1), 19–30. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.68.1.19.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krug, E. G., Mercy, J. A., Dahlberg, L. L., & Zwi, A. B. (2002). The world report on violence and health. Lancet, 360(9339), 1083–1088. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(02)11133-0.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Listenbee, R., Torre, J., Boyle, G., Cooper, S., Deer, S., Durfee, D., … Taguba, A. (2012). Report of the attorney general's national task force on children exposed to violence. Attorney General's National Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence.

  • Luthar, S. S., Cicchetti, D., Becker, B., Luthar, S. S., Cicchetti, D., & Becker, B. (2000). The construct of resilience: A critical evaluation and guidelines for future work. Child Development, 71(3), 543–562. doi:10.1111/1467-8624.00164.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Masten, A. S. (2014). Global perspectives on resilience in children and youth. Child Development, 85(1), 6–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Masten, A. S., & Obradović, J. (2006). Competence and resilience in development. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1094(1), 13–27. doi:10.1196/annals.1376.003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maxfield, M., & Babbie, E. (2014). Research methods for criminal justice and criminology. Toronto: Nelson Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, R., Jouriles, E. N., Ramisetty-Mikler, S., Caetano, R., & Green, C. E. (2006). Estimating the number of American children living in partner-violent families. Journal of Family Psychology, 20(1), 137–142. doi:10.1037/0893-3200.20.1.137.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McIntyre, J. K., & Widom, C. S. (2011). Childhood victimization and crime victimization. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 26(4), 640–663. doi:10.1177/0886260510365868.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moylan, C. A., Herrenkohl, T. I., Sousa, C., Tajima, E. A., Herrenkohl, R. C., & Russo, M. J. (2010). The effects of child abuse and exposure to domestic violence on adolescent internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Journal of Family Violence, 25(1), 53–63.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • National Association of School Psychologists. (2012). Bullying prevention and intervention in schools. Bethesda: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Campaign to Stop Violence. (2013). Discussion paper on the causes, effects, and solutions to youth violence. Washington, DC: National Campaign to Stop Violence.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neuman, W. L. (1994). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Connor, T. S. J., Meakes, E., Pickering, M. R., & Schuman, M. (1997). On the right track: Client experience of narrative therapy. Contemporary Family Therapy, 19(4), 479–495.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osofsky, J. D. (1999). The impact of violence on children. The Future of Children / Center for the Future of Children, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, 9(3), 33–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pennebaker, J. W. (1997). Writing about emotional experiences as a therapeutic process. Psychological Science, 8(3), 162–166. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.1997.tb00403.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pennebaker, J. W. (2012). Opening up: The healing power of expressing emotions. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pergolizzi, F., Pergolizzi, J., Gan, Z., Macario, S., Pergolizzi, J. V., Ewin, T., & Gan, T. J. (2011). Bullying in middle school: Results from a 2008 survey. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 23(1), 11–18.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Quinn, G. P., Bell-Ellison, B. A., Loomis, W., & Tucci, M. (2007). Adolescent perceptions of violence: Formative research findings from a social marketing campaign to reduce violence among middle school youth. Public Health, 121(5), 357–366. doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2006.11.012.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Resnick, M. D., Ireland, M., & Borowsky, I. (2004). Youth violence perpetration: What protects? What predicts? Findings from the national longitudinal study of adolescent health. Journal of Adolescent Health, 35(5), 424e1–424e10. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2004.01.011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rose, A. J., & Rudolph, K. D. (2006). A review of sex differences in peer relationship processes: Potential trade-offs for the emotional and behavioral development of girls and boys. Psychological Bulletin, 132(1), 98–131.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Saunders, B. E. (2003). Understanding children exposed to violence: Toward an integration of overlapping fields. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 18(4), 356–376. doi:10.1177/0886260502250840.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shavers, C. A. (2013). Exposures to violence and trauma among children and adolescents. Health, 5(2), 298–305.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slivinske, J., & Slivinske, L. (2014). Therapeutic storytelling for adolescents and young adults. In L. Slivinske (Ed.), Therapeutic storytelling for adolescents and young adults. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smyth, J. M., Hockemeyer, J. R., & Tulloch, H. (2008). Expressive writing and post-traumatic stress disorder: Effects on trauma symptoms, mood states, and cortisol reactivity. British Journal of Health Psychology, 13(Pt 1), 85–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sternberg, K. J., Baradaran, L. P., Abbott, C. B., Lamb, M. E., & Guterman, E. (2006). Type of violence, age, and gender differences in the effects of family violence on children’s behavior problems: A mega-analysis. Developmental Review, 26(1), 89–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vaillancourt, T., McDougall, P., Hymel, S., Krygsman, A., Miller, J., Stiver, K., & Davis, C. (2008). Bullying: Are researchers and children/youth talking about the same thing? International Journal of Behavioral Development, 32(6), 486–495.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vromans, L. P., & Schweitzer, R. D. (2011). Narrative therapy for adults with major depressive disorder: Improved symptom and interpersonal outcomes. Psychotherapy Research, 21(1), 4–15.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, M., & Holcombe, R. (2010). Adolescents’ perceptions of school environment, engagement, and academic achievement in middle school. American Educational Research Journal, 47(3), 633–662.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, J., Iannotti, R. J., & Nansel, T. R. (2009). School bullying among adolescents in the united states: Physical, verbal, relational, and cyber. Journal of Adolescent Health, 45(4), 368–375.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Widom, C. S. (2000). Childhood victimization: Early adversity, later psychopathology. National Institute of Justice Journal, 242, 3–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman, A., Morrel-Samuels, S., Wong, N., Tarver, D., Rabiah, D., & White, S. (2004). Guns, gangs, and gossip an analysis of student essays on youth violence. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 24(4), 385–411. doi:10.1177/0272431604268551.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zolkoski, S. M., & Bullock, L. M. (2012). Resilience in children and youth: A review. Children and Youth Services Review, 34(12), 2295–2303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the journal reviewers for their valuable suggestions, and the teachers and children participants, the judges of the Do the Write Thing competition in Region V, Texas for their participation in this project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, Social Work, & Criminal Justice, Lamar University, 4400 MLK Box 10026, Beaumont, TX, 77701, USA

    Ginger Gummelt

  2. Graduate College of Social Work, University of Houston, 3511 Cullen Blvd., 110HA, Houston, TX, 77204-4013, USA

    Monit Cheung

Authors
  1. Ginger Gummelt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Monit Cheung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Monit Cheung.

Ethics declarations

Disclosure of Interest

Authors Ginger Gummelt and Monit Cheung declare that they have no conflicts of interest to report.

Ethical Standards and Informed Consent

This study used secondary data from a writing contest. All identifiers were removed prior to the study. Informed Consent was not required. We received IRB approval from both University of Houston (Protocol Number: 14,355–01) and Lamar University (Number: 73,414,139).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gummelt, G., Cheung, M. Analyzing Children’s Perception of Violence Through Their Writing. Journ Child Adol Trauma 12, 1–10 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-017-0151-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-017-0151-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation