Violence and Health

young boy hugging knees on stairs

The health consequences of experiencing or witnessing traumatic events—domestic and community violence, acts of terrorism, natural disasters, war—are a significant public health problem. From students to soldiers, trauma can affect anyone.

RAND Health has identified ways to prevent and respond to different forms of psychological and physical violence and trauma.

From the RAND Blog

Guns in Homes: A Health Hazard — Mar 25, 2013

gun in dresser drawerAn ample body of evidence indicates that the benefits of keeping a gun for protection are substantially outweighed by the associated risks, writes Art Kellermann.

Can Improved Mental Health Care Prevent Gun Crimes? The Truth Is, We Don't Know — Jan 17, 2013

teenage-boy-depressed-gunIf policymakers and the public expect the mental health community to play a significant role in preventing future incidents like Newtown, the mental health research agenda must become a higher national priority in future federal funding decisions, writes Terry Schell.

Latest Research and Publications

Aggression Among Children and Adolescents

two brothers fightingData confirm that boys engage in more direct aggression than girls. Direct aggression is also related to externalizing problems, poor peer relations, and low prosocial behavior.

Are Sexual Assault and Disease Prevention Programs Considering the Full Range of Young Women's Sexual Goals?

couple in bedProgramming is often based on the assumption that young women only care about risk reduction when making decisions about sexual encounters. However, their most important goals are communicating clearly and avoiding unwanted sex.

Safe Start Promising Approaches for Children Exposed to Violence: an Evaluation

RAND's evaluation of Safe Start Promising Approaches identified program successes and challenges in implementing programs for children exposed to violence. The evaluation results, though largely inconclusive, can inform similar efforts going forward.

Research in Progress

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