Psychological and Social Determinants of Violence in School Environments: Advancing in the Prevention and Reduction of Its Effects

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Educational Science Department, University of Bío-Bío, Chillán 3780000, Chile
Interests: emotional education; school anxiety; diversity; socio-emotional skills.

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue seeks to explore the psychological and social determinants that contribute to violence in school environments, with a focus on advancing strategies for prevention and mitigating its effects. Violence in educational settings, including bullying, aggression, and interpersonal conflict, poses significant challenges to the well-being, academic performance, and social development of students, and affects teachers too. Understanding the underlying factors—such as individual psychological traits, family dynamics, peer relationships, and broader socio-cultural influences—is critical to developing effective interventions.

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide a platform for interdisciplinary research that examines the complex interplay of these determinants and their impact on school violence. We invite contributions that address innovative prevention programs, evidence-based interventions, and theoretical frameworks that enhance our understanding of violence in educational contexts. Submissions may include empirical studies, systematic reviews, and theoretical papers that highlight practical approaches to reducing violence and fostering safe, inclusive school environments.

By bringing together diverse perspectives, this Special Issue aims to contribute to the global discourse on school violence and provide actionable insights for educators, policymakers, and mental health professionals. We encourage submissions that emphasize the role of psychological resilience, social support systems, and community engagement in creating sustainable solutions to this pressing issue. Through this collective effort, we hope to advance knowledge and practice in the prevention and reduction of violence in schools, ultimately promoting healthier and more supportive learning environments for all students.

Prof. Dr. Inmaculada Méndez Mateo
Dr. Cecilia Ruiz Esteban
Dr. Nelly Lagos
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • school violence
  • prevention
  • school environments
  • mental health

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

13 pages, 361 KiB  
Article
Profiles of Aggressiveness and Stress in Spanish Adolescents
by Cecilia Ruiz-Esteban, Inmaculada Méndez, Juan Pedro Martínez-Ramón, Nuria Antón-Ros and Nelly Gromiria Lagos San Martín
Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2025, 15(6), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe15060112 - 13 Jun 2025
Viewed by 499
Abstract
Aggressiveness among schoolchildren can be shaped by specific school-related situations that elicit stress. Accordingly, this study aimed to identify differentiated profiles of secondary school students based on the levels of aggressive behavior they exhibit. A further objective was to examine whether various stress-related [...] Read more.
Aggressiveness among schoolchildren can be shaped by specific school-related situations that elicit stress. Accordingly, this study aimed to identify differentiated profiles of secondary school students based on the levels of aggressive behavior they exhibit. A further objective was to examine whether various stress-related factors differ significantly across these behavioral profiles. The sample consisted of 386 secondary school students (M = 13.73; SD = 1.14), of whom 52.6% were female. Data were collected using the Aggression Questionnaire (AQ) by Buss and Perry and the School Situation Survey (SSS) developed by Helms and Gable. Latent profile analysis revealed three distinct profiles: (a) students exhibiting high levels of aggressive behavior (Cluster 1), (b) students showing moderate levels of aggressive behavior (Cluster 2), and (c) students displaying low levels of aggressive behavior (Cluster 3). Students in the high-aggression profile reported significantly higher scores on most sources of stress compared to their peers in the moderate and low aggression profiles. From an educational standpoint, these findings underscore the importance of addressing school-related stressors, as they appear to play a critical role in influencing student behavior. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop