Abstract
Purpose. This exploratory study determined the extent to which selected students in a rural and suburban high school perceived that they and other students: (1) exhibited relatedness with a friend, a peer group, and/or the school and, (2) exhibited behaviors that may be associated with youth violence behaviors identified in previous studies. Methodology. Descriptive research methods were used. Surveys were returned from all 278 tenth- and eleventh-grade social science students in the sample. A six-point Likert scale was used to determine the extent to which they and other students on the two campuses exhibited relatedness and/or youth violence behaviors. Frequency distributions, descriptive statistics, and independent and paired samples t-tests were used to analyze differences between the schools. Findings. (1) Students perceived that they and other students on their high school campuses exhibited relatedness and youth violence behaviors. They reported (a) a weak sense of belonging but perceived that other students exhibited a stronger sense of belonging, (b) a moderately strong level of reciprocity but perceived that other students exhibited a weaker level of reciprocity; (c) a weak level of mutuality and perceived that other students also exhibited a weak level of mutuality. (2) Students surveyed perceived that other students exhibited youth violence behaviors and thirty-six students reported that they exhibited these behaviors. (3) This potential for violence among adolescents is also reported in the literature. Conclusions. (1) Adolescents who do not feel relatedness with a friend, a peer group, and/or the school, lack the opportunity to develop positive behavioral experiences. (2) The potential for violence among students on rural and suburban high school campuses exists. (3) Educators can identify students who exhibit a lack of relatedness and/or violence behaviors and intervene before violence occurs. Recommendations. That this study be replicated with a larger sample of students, in an urban high school of similar demographics statewide. That research be conducted to develop interventions with students who lack relatedness or exhibit youth violence behaviors.