Educational performance and attitudes toward school as risk- protective factors for violence

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine whether school experiences ,school performance, and other risk-protective factors were related to violence among Hawaiian, Filipino, and Samoan youths residing in Hawaii. This study analyzed survey data (N =325) collected in three high schools having concentrations of Filipino, Hawaiian, and Samoan youths, as well as a smaller number of Japanese students, which served as a comparison group. The analyses consisted of bivariate and multivariate analyses of risk protection for violence. Two-and three- way interactions were tested to examine whether there were specific gender and/ or ethnic effects. Then a model explained 29.3% of the variance inviolate behavior. Five variables were Signiant: grade point average, pressure to choose between school and friends, favorable school attitude, feeling safe, and importance of college. Schools serving these populations should focus on fostering positive bonds between teachers and students and building bridges to families and neighborhoods. C 2010Wiley Periodicals, Inc.