Comportamento delinquente entre alunos expostos à violência familiar em escolas de Québec
Delinquent behavior among students exposed to family violence in Québec schools
Keywords:
Juvenile delinquency, social behavior, domestic violence, learning.Abstract
Objective: Juvenile delinquency is one of the major public concerns in many countries. This study aims to document the
association between exposure to interparental violence and delinquent behaviors among high school students in Québec
(Canada). Methods: A representative sample of 8194 students aged 14-20 years was recruited in Québec (Canada) high
schools. Participants completed a questionnaire describing delinquent behaviors as well as exposure to interparental
psychological and physical violence. Results: Overall, one out of two participants had experienced delinquent behavior and
61.8% of them reported having been exposed to at least one of the two forms of family violence. Overall, youth exposed
to interparental violence are more likely to experience delinquent behavior. Both psychological and physical interparental
violence were signifi cantly and independently associated with delinquent behavior. Conclusion: The fi ndings of this study
point out the vulnerability of youth exposed to interparental violence. They also highlight the need in the prevention of
juvenile delinquency to focus not only on youth but also on both parents that may have been involved in family violence.
