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From Protection to Risk: Settings of Domestic Violence against Pará Youngsters

ABSTRACT:

This study investigated domestic violence as a risk factor affecting the development of younsters, and aimed to identify the main perpetrators and the main types of violence. 658 youngsters of both sexes participated with ages between 12 and 24 years. They attended from 7th grade of junior high school to 3rd grade of high school in 10 different schools of Belém - Pará - Brazilian Amazon Region. Verbal abuse and physical violence were the most frequently types of violence. Parents were the main perpetrators of physical violence, stepmothers and grandmothers the main perpetrators of psychological abuse, while stepfathers and others were the main perpetrators of sexual violence. We concluded that understanding family dynamics is essential in proposing public policies to protect youngsters.

Keywords:
adolescents; young adults; family violence; risk factors

Instituto de Psicologia, Universidade de Brasília Instituto de Psicologia, Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900 - Brasília - DF - Brazil, Tel./Fax: (061) 274-6455 - Brasília - DF - Brazil
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