Violence in youth work institutions - a survey of young people in Germany

Presentation Violence in youth work institutions - a survey of young people in Germany. Prof. Dr. Arne Schäfer RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, Germany Arne.Schaefer@hs-rm.de The presentation provides insight into... [ view full abstract ]

Presentation
Violence in youth work institutions - a survey of young people in Germany.
Prof. Dr. Arne Schäfer
RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, Germany
Arne.Schaefer@hs-rm.de

The presentation provides insight into the ongoing research project entitled “Violence in open child and youth work institutions - a survey of users in North Rhine-Westphalia”. Within the scope of the research project, approx. 850 juveniles between the ages of 12 and 25 were asked about their own acts of violence and how they have been affected by violence in youth centers, by means of a standardized survey. Furthermore, the survey addressed the relationships between the juveniles and the social workers, the potential for co-determination and the question as to which help juveniles receive in youth centers. The investigations involved around 50 youth institutions located across North Rhine-Westphalia, the most highly-populated Federal German State.

The survey focused on acts of violence and the experiences of violence of juveniles who regularly visit youth centers and youth clubs in their leisure time. Here the term ‘violence’ is used in the broad sense and refers to both instances of verbal aggression (e.g. insults and verbal humiliation), as well as physical confrontations (e.g. punch-ups between juveniles). In addition, questions were asked to determine the social contexts in which the reported acts of violence and experiences of violence took place (e.g. school, youth center, on the street).
In order to guarantee professional, recipient-oriented social work with juveniles, we must acquaint ourselves with the perspectives, attitudes and motives of the juvenile participants. Against this background, the survey makes an empirical contribution to the scientific further development of social work with juveniles, whereby violence in youth work institutions is highlighted from the perspective of the participants. The initial results of the research project are presented in the presentation.