children s health issues
Violent Behavior in Children and Adolescents
Introduction
Many children and adolescents occasionally have physical confrontations with others, but most children and adolescents do not continue violent behavior or engage in violent crime. However, children who exhibit violent behavior before puberty may be at higher risk of committing crimes. Many risk factors for youth violence are linked to experiencing prolonged or repeated stress. This stress can negatively change the brain development. Known risk factors for violent behavior include the following: Exposure to violence or history of violent victimization Developmental or behavioral issues Alcohol and drug misuse by caregivers of the child or adolescent Harsh, lax, or inconsistent disciplinary practices or neglect by parents or caregivers Association with delinquent peers or gang involvement Living in a community with diminished economic opportunities, high levels of family disruption, or social disorganization Access to firearms There seems to be a relationship between violence and access to firearms, exposure to violence through media (such as social media and news platforms), and exposure to Overview of Child Neglect and Abuse and Violent video games may desensitize children to violence. Although experts do not think they actually cause children to become violent, children exposed to them are more used to violence being part of life. (See also Overview of Behavioral Problems in Children and 