title: Adolescents' experiences of coping with domestic violence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper is a report of a study of experiences of domestic violence and coping among ninth-grade (14-17 years old) adolescents.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Domestic violence is commonplace and adolescents are involved in it either as witnesses or victims. Research has shown that different degrees of domestic violence play a major role in adolescent well-being and coping.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey of ninth graders in one municipality in Finland was conducted in 2007. A total of 1393 adolescents participated, giving a 78% response rate. The survey included two validated scales, the Violence Scale and the Adolescent Coping Scale. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine coping among adolescents with and without experience of domestic violence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-seven per cent of adolescents had experienced parental symbolic aggression, 55% mild violence and 9% serious violence. The multivariate logistic regression model showed that experiences of violence were associated with deterioration in self-rated health, life satisfaction, adolescent giving in when in a conflict situation, approval of corporal punishment and coping by seeking to belong and self-blame. Those with experience of domestic violence did not seek professional help.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adolescents experiencing domestic violence do not seek help and care providers should therefore take active measures to help them. These adolescents reported that they were satisfied with life, which makes it difficult to identify their need for help. Resources should be developed to identify and help these adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Sari Lepistö MNSc RN PhD Student Department of Nursing Science, University of Tampere, Finland. sari.j.lepisto@uta.fi
authors.forename: Sari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lepistö
authors.forename: Päivi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Astedt-Kurki
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Joronen
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Luukkaala
authors.forename: Eija
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paavilainen
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires