Parents’ opinion on family matters as possible cause of school violence

Abstract

Since parents are one of the essential agents in the child development, in many cases they are responsible, together with teachers and society, of the emerging violent conduct in the individual. Consequently, this research analyses the parents’ perception (including fathers, mothers, guardians and any other adult in charge of a minor) about family matters susceptible of being considered the reason or origin of violence in youths and, specifically, the violence between schoolchildren. The survey covered a total of 414 fathers, mothers and guardian between 23 and 60 years old. The results show that parents highlight as the most influencing aspect in the origin of violent conducts within the school, the lack of education in respect for others and things and the lack of education in values. Parents highlight as less influencing aspects that both, parents/guardians work and the lack of incentive by them. Men and women agree on considering as less influencing aspect that both parents work out of home. This item is significantly less important for the group where mothers/guardians or both parents/guardians work out of home, compared with the group where only fathers/guardians work out of home.

Key words: School violence, parents, etiology, family matters.