Citation

Meyer HA, Astor RA. J. School Violence 2002; 1(4): 101-128.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, Bridgewater College, 402 East College Street, Bridgewater, VA 22812

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1300/J202v01n04_07

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study examined children's understanding of the danger and potential harm they face while traveling to and from school in two urban neighborhoods with high crime and violence rates. A qualitative methodology was used to explore how students negotiate danger or potential harm within the context of their routes to and from school. Structured interviews with three hundred seventy-seven second, fourth, sixth, and eighth graders (and 106 of their parents) were analyzed utilizing an inductive coding process (emergent themes). When students were asked to discuss the safety of their school routes, emergent themes included student's fear/awareness of death, fear of violence/victimization, and fear of gangs. Students also mentioned getting driven to school and better monitoring as ways that their school routes could be made safer. Parents discussed similar fears and concerns as their children. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.