School disorder, victimization, and general v. place-specific student avoidance

Ryan Randa, Pamela Wilcox

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study utilizes a national sample of 3, 776 high-school students to test two theoretical models of school avoidance behavior. More specifically, this study examines the relationships between student avoidance and both school disorder (or, incivilities) and previous victimization experiences. Further, the study also examines whether the presumed effects of incivilities and victimization on avoidance operate indirectly, through student fear. Negative Binomial regression analyses showed that perceived disorder in the form of presence of gangs and previous bullying victimization are key sources of student fear. In turn, student fear is positively correlated with two distinct types of avoidance behavior. Interestingly, controlling for student fear does not dissolve the significant, positive effects of perceived gang presence and bullying victimization.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)854-861
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Criminal Justice
Volume38
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2010

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Social Psychology
  • Applied Psychology
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Law

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