| Abstract [eng] |
Mental health difficulties and behavioral problems during adolescence are often associated with experiences of violence of any kind (WHO, 2022). Due to the sensitive and vulnerable stage of development, adolescents are more affected by their environment than at any other developmental stage (Ttofi & Farrington, 2021). One way to protect children from experiences of violence and their harmful effects on development and optimal functioning is through violence prevention programs (Fazel et al., 2024). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the violence prevention program „We Are Safe“ on adolescents’ mental health and aggressive behavior. A total of 68 adolescents participated in the study (age: M = 13.10, SD = 0.31), of whom 63% were girls (n = 43) and 37% were boys (n = 25). Thirty-two (47%) participants were assigned to the control group, and 36 (53%) to the intervention group. To assess adolescents’ mental health, the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale for Youth (Szabo, 2022) was used. The Aggression Scale (Orpinas et al., 2001) was used to measure the frequency of aggressive behavior, and experiences of violence were assessed using the Violence Exposure Questionnaire (Hafstad & Augusti, 2019). The results revealed that the „We Are Safe“ violence prevention program contributed to a reduction in adolescents’ stress and anxiety. These findings demonstrate that violence prevention programs can be effective not only in improving knowledge about recognizing and preventing violence but also in enhancing overall adolescent mental health. Additionally, it is important to note that the program is beneficial in reducing mental health difficulties among adolescents who have experienced violence or exhibit aggressive behavior. |
