Tekijät

• Mielityinen, Laura (Tampere University)
• Hautamäki, Sari (Tampere University)
• Hakala, Venla (Tampere University)
• Ellonen, Noora (Tampere University)

Asiasanat

adolescents, assault, child abuse, child sexual abuse, children, crimes against persons, crimes against property, cyberbullying, domestic violence, harassment, parent-child relationship, school bullying, schoolchildren, sexual abuse, sexual behaviour, substance use

Sisällön kuvaus

The survey focused on violence against children and adolescents in Finland, surveying different forms and manifestations of violence. The respondents were sixth grade (12-13 year olds) and ninth grade (15-16 year olds) pupils in schools. The main themes in the survey were experiences of crime (such as robberies, thefts, threats, assaults and domestic violence), sibling and peer victimisation, sexual violence, harassment and threats via the internet and cyber-bullying. Data collection was carried out during a class. Compared to the previous data collection in 2013, the section measuring violence in digital environments in particular was revised.

First, the respondents were asked about their home, family structure, relationships with family and friends, health, any experience of substance abuse, leisure activities and hobbies. They were also asked about any inappropriate behaviour, such as hitting, intimidating, encouraging sexual activity or offering intoxicants, which may have been initiated by the instructor or coach of the recreational activity.

So-called conventional crime was charted by asking whether the respondents had been subjected to robbery, theft, vandalism, assault or attempted assault, threats, how often, whether they had told anyone, and whether they had suffered any injuries. Further questions dealt with the scene of the crime and the perpetrator's identity, including his/her sex, age, and ethnicity. Sibling and peer violence was studied with questions about assault, and physical and emotional bullying.

Regarding witnessing violence against family members, the respondents were asked whether they had seen or heard their mother, father or sibling being verbally or physically abused (e.g. hit with a fist or an item, attacked with a knife) or threatened with violence at home, and who the perpetrator had been, how old the respondent had been when the (first) incident had occurred, and whether the victim had sustained visible injuries or injuries that required professional treatment. Another question investigated whether a family member had been verbally or physically abused, threatened with violence etc. in public. Parents' means of approaching a conflict situation with the respondent were charted (e.g. sulking, insulting, threatening with violence, spanking on the bottom, kicking).

Relating to sexual activity with adults (or people at least five years older), the respondents were asked, among other things, whether they had experienced sexual advances from or been in sexual contact with adults, what had happened (e.g. sexual propositions, fondling, exposure of genitals), how old they had been, whether the respondent had known the adult, which of them had initiated the activity, whether coercion, violence, gifts or alcohol were involved, whether the respondent viewed the situation as sexual abuse, and whether the respondent had told anyone about the incident and if not, why. In addition, ninth-grade respondents were asked about sexual experiences, such as first kisses, dating and sex, with peers.

Background variables included, among others, the respondent's class grade, gender, age, household composition, and country of birth (categorised) as well as parents' ages, occupations, employment statuses, countries of birth (categorised), and educations. Language spoken at home and financial situation of the family were also inquired about.