In this article we explore a Finnish nationally representative self‐report survey (N = 155, 299) conducted in a school as a tool to advance the study of violence in alternative care. By analysing the survey, we were able to provide plausible prevalence and estimates of risk factors of violence in alternative care, suggesting that self‐report surveys conducted in schools are a useful and valid methodology for this type of research. Conducting the survey in a school setting enabled us to reach a nationally representative population of adolescents living in alternative care, which would be difficult to achieve in any other way. However, studying violence in alternative care with a school survey requires a large sample size. Even with quite a substantial dataset, detailed explanatory analyses were not possible due to the low number of observations. This emphasises the importance of other types of data in addition to survey data in explanatory analysis. Based on this study, we concluded that nationally representative self‐report surveys conducted in schools could provide a useful tool and possibilities for replicable research design, which could thereby develop the research field further.

This article examines how maltreatment experienced by adolescents is related to school engagement. Maltreatment includes physical, mental, and sexual violence along with sexual harassment, neglect, and witnessing domestic violence. School engagement refers to the students’ relationship to all activities in the school. It describes students’ thoughts, activities and participation as well as their emotions in relation to school. Analysis is based on the Finnish School Health Promotion data ( N = 155,299) and analyzed by linear regression analysis. Results indicate that adolescents’ maltreatment experiences are related to school engagement, regardless of gender, age, family structure, or immigrant background. Maltreatment increases functional engagement and decreases emotional and cognitive engagement. These results thus confirm that maltreatment can also cause immersion in schoolwork. The results can be used to prevent lower school engagement and maltreatment of adolescents.

(1) Schools have a significant role in violence prevention activities. This study aimed to first identify profiles of Finnish comprehensive schools based on school violence. The second aim was to examine the associations between profiles concerning health promotion actions, reactive or punitive actions, and school characteristics. (2) The study used the large-scale, nationally representative Benchmarking System of Health Promotion Capacity-Building (BSHPCB) data (n = 2057 schools) completed by the school’s principal together with a student welfare team. The data was analyzed by cluster analysis and Chi-squared and Kruskal–Wallis tests. For post hoc testing, Fisher’s exact test with odds ratios and Mann–Whitney U-test were used. (3) The cluster analysis yielded five profiles of school violence: “No violence”, “Adolescent violence” (violence both among pupils and from pupils towards staff, but not inappropriate behavior from school staff towards pupils), “Not known” (principals either did not respond to these questions or they did not know whether there had been any school violence incidents), “Peer violence” (school violence occurred among pupils but not from pupils towards staff, nor inappropriate behavior from school staff towards pupils), and “All violence” (all types of school violence and inappropriate behavior from school staff towards pupils). These clusters differed according to type of school and municipality. Additionally, both management and monitoring as health promotion actions were related to higher incidence of school violence whereas other actions, such as commitment, resources, common practices, and participation were not related to school violence. (4) The findings of this study indicate that schools have different profiles in terms of school violence and providing evidence and guidance for school violence prevention work.

Kosto-orientaatiolla on aiemmassa tieteellisessä tutkimuksessa todettu olevan yhteys väkivaltarikollisuuteen, mutta ilmiöstä tarvitaan vielä lisätutkimusta etenkin nuorten osalta. Kosto-orientoituneisuudella tarkoitetaan henkilön yleistä valmiutta ja halukkuutta kostaa kokemansa vääryys tai haitta. Tässä tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan kosto-orientaation yhteyttä nuorten tekemiin väkivaltarikoksiin. Lisäksi tarkastellaan, onko kosto-orientaation ja väkivaltarikosten yhteydessä eroja tyttöjen ja poikien välillä. Tutkimus perustuu Nuorisorikollisuuskysely 2016 -kyselyaineistoon, johon vastasi 6061 yhdeksäsluokkalaista nuorta eri puolilta Suomea. Analyysimenetelmänä käytetään logistista regressioanalyysia. Tutkimustulosten mukaan aiemmasta tutkimuksesta tunnetut riskitekijät kuten sukupuoli, aiemmat uhrikokemukset, riskinotto, riskirutiinit, vanhempien sosiaalinen kontrolli ja koulun ja koulumatkan turvallisuus ovat yhteydessä väkivaltarikoksiin. Kun muut väkivaltaa selittävät tekijät vakioitiin, kosto-orientaatio oli heikosti yhteydessä väkivaltarikosten tekemiseen. Moderaatioanalyysissa sukupuolten välillä ei ollut merkitsevää eroa kosto-orientaation ja väkivaltarikosten yhteydessä.

Objective Further validation of Brief Child Abuse Potential (BCAP) inventory, for setting the correct classification rate. Methods Data collection from potential abusers ( n = 47), visiting in the hospital clinic meant for parents having special needs due to problems with alcohol and drugs connected to other evidence-based risk factors of child abuse. The risk level was compared between these 47 parents and previously collected data from 450 parents, representing general population. Results There were no differences between likely abusers and the general population. Among both groups, 6% had elevated abuse risk and there were no differences in appearance of dimensions including in the abuse scale. Conclusions Assuming child abuse based on known risk factors is not enough, when setting the correct classification rate. We need more accurate knowledge about the abuse, and the family life situation in general. However, assessing risk factors of child maltreatment systematically with the BCAP, can still serve as a fruitful basis of assessing parents’ needs and worries as the basis for providing support what they need.