The Impact of Trusted Adults and Friends on Fear and Avoidance Behaviors at School
ORCID
May: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8275-6773; Wells: https://orcid.org//0000-0002-3455-041X; Stubbs-Richardson: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8636-497X; Evans-McCleon: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4629-1416; Sinclair: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5921-595X
MSU Affiliation
College of Arts and Sciences; Department of Sociology; Social Science Research Center; MSU-Meridian; Division of Education
Creation Date
2026-06-01
Abstract
Limited research has explored how having a trusted adult or friend in a school setting impacts students’ perceptions of school safety and their safety-related behaviors at school. We use data from 447 public high school students in a southeastern state to explore that relationship. Results indicate that those youths who had a trusted adult at school were less fearful than their counterparts while having a trusted friend did not affect either fear of crime or avoidance behaviors. Youths who had been victims of bullying were both significantly more fearful of victimization and were significantly more likely to engage in avoidance behaviors. Implications for school policy and research are discussed.
Publication Date
9-20-2023
Publication Title
Journal of Crime and Criminal Behavior
Publisher
ARF India
First Page
277
Last Page
298
Rights
© ARF India. All Right Reserved
Recommended Citation
David C. May, Makeela J. Wells, Megan Stubbs-Richardson, Tawny N. Evans-Mccleon & H. Colleen Sinclair (2023). The Impact of Trusted Adults and Friends on Fear and Avoidance Behaviors at School. Journal of Crime and Criminal Behavior, 3: 2, pp. 277-298. https://doi.org/10.47509/JCCB.2023.v03i02.01
