Exposure to violence and intentions to engage in moralistic violence during early adolescence

This study examined young adolescentsʹintentions to use moralistic violence and their violence exposure, examining male–female differences. Sixth-grade students (n=702) from Georgia middle schools servicing impoverished communities participated. Data were obtained on the studentsʹ exposure to violence, family structure and education level, church attendance, gang interest, drug use, and depression status. The dependent variable, intention to use moralistic violence, was measured with an 11-item scale. Linear regression models were run separately for males and females. Males had significantly higher mean intention to use moralistic violence than females (p=0·002). Males reported being exposed to violence more than females, but exposure decreased as attendance to religious services increased. For these 11–12-year-olds, unconventional peer social norms, such as witnessing violence, increased their intention to use violence while involvement in conventional activities, such as church attendance, decreased it. The protective effect was greater for males than females.