Trends in children's exposure to violence, 2003 to 2011.
OBJECTIVE
The study suggests that years of public policy designed to reduce the burden of violence and victimization among youths is having some success.


OBJECTIVE
To identify trends in children's exposure to violence, crime, and abuse from 2003 through 2011.


METHODS
Three national telephone surveys of representative samples of children and caregivers from 2003, 2008, and 2011 were compared, all obtained using the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire; samples included parents of children 2 to 9 years old and youth 10 to 17 years old.


METHODS
Direct and indirect experiences of violence, abuse, and victimization during the previous year.


METHODS
Change in rates between 2003 and 2011 and between 2008 and 2011.


RESULTS
Of 50 trends in exposure examined, there were 27 significant declines and no significant increases between 2003 and 2011. Declines were particularly large for assault victimization, bullying, and sexual victimization. There were also significant declines in the perpetration of violence and property crime. For the recession period between 2008 and 2011, there were 11 significant declines and no increases for 50 specific trends examined. Dating violence declined, as did one form of sexual victimization and some forms of indirect exposure.


CONCLUSIONS
Victimization surveys with general population samples confirm patterns seen in police data and adult surveys. Crime and violence have been declining in the child and youth population as well.
Crimes Against Children Research Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham.
David
D
Finkelhor
Crimes Against Children Research Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham.
Anne
A
Shattuck
Crimes Against Children Research Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham.
Heather A
HA
Turner
Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee.
Sherry L
SL
Hamby
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000639:trends*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence / Q000639:trends*