A Paradox of School Social Organization: Positive School Climate, Friendship Network Density, and Adolescent Violence
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Fostering a positive school climate may not reduce adolescent violence as expected. In schools with dense friendships, a positive climate can paradoxically increase violence, challenging traditional approaches to youth violence prevention.
Area Of Science
- Sociology
- Criminology
- Adolescent Psychology
Background
- Positive school climate is often promoted to decrease adolescent violence.
- Evidence for its effectiveness is inconsistent, suggesting moderating factors.
- School-level friendship network density is a potential moderator.
Purpose Of The Study
- To investigate how positive school climate and friendship network density interact to influence adolescent violence.
- To test competing hypotheses regarding this interaction: informal social control vs. conflict/subversion.
Main Methods
- Utilized data from Waves I-II of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (N = 11,771).
- Analyzed the interplay between school climate and student friendship network density in relation to violence perpetration.
Main Results
- A positive school climate was associated with reduced violence only in schools with low friendship density.
- Conversely, a positive school climate correlated with increased violence in schools with high friendship density.
- Findings support the conflict/subversion hypothesis over informal social control.
Conclusions
- Efforts to reduce adolescent violence through school cohesion may be undermined by dense youth friendship networks.
- Network processes can subvert the intended positive effects of school climate initiatives.
- Future interventions must consider the complex role of peer networks.
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