<p>The overall purpose of this study is to make a survey of the extent as to which youths have witnessed acts of violence and or violence in close relationships, and which underlying factors, sex, class, and ethnicity – characterize youths with such experiences. The study also aims to explore their attitudes and strategies and what the consequences are for youths of witnessing acts of violence, with respect to attachment to adults and other social networks. The primary data have been collected in two upper secondary schools. The study includes 101 students. The data were acquired through a survey consisting of 21 questions on the students’ background, general state of health, violence in general, whether they had witnessed/experienced the phenomenon, relations to closely-related adults/other social networks. All data have been analyzed in SPSS. The resulting material has been analyzed according to published previous research and theories of attachment. Five percent of the respondents stated that they had witnessed acts of violence in close relationships. The underlying factors sex and ethnicity seem to be significant. Despite having experience violence, these youths have comparatively good relations to closely-related adults, though they state that they would rather discuss the phenomenon with grown-ups at school.</p>

The overall purpose of this study is to make a survey of the extent as to which youths have witnessed acts of violence and or violence in close relationships, and which underlying factors, sex, class, and ethnicity – characterize youths with such experiences. The study also aims to explore their attitudes and strategies and what the consequences are for youths of witnessing acts of violence, with respect to attachment to adults and other social networks. The primary data have been collected in two upper secondary schools. The study includes 101 students. The data were acquired through a survey consisting of 21 questions on the students’ background, general state of health, violence in general, whether they had witnessed/experienced the phenomenon, relations to closely-related adults/other social networks. All data have been analyzed in SPSS. The resulting material has been analyzed according to published previous research and theories of attachment. Five percent of the respondents stated that they had witnessed acts of violence in close relationships. The underlying factors sex and ethnicity seem to be significant. Despite having experience violence, these youths have comparatively good relations to closely-related adults, though they state that they would rather discuss the phenomenon with grown-ups at school.