Evaluating social protective factors for violence involvement in Honduras

ABSTRACT

Endemic levels of violence continue to stall social and economic development in Honduras. Significant emphasis has been placed on social protective factors such as resilience and cohesion in violence prevention policies and programmes. This article evaluates these factors using previously validated tools applied to over 1,200 non-incarcerated and incarcerated individuals. Results demonstrate that resilience and cohesion are not as strongly associated with violence involvement in these samples as hypothesised, while early behaviour problems have a greater association with current violence involvement. These results suggest the need for further investigation into critical violence prevention hypotheses.

KEYWORDS:

• Conflict and reconstruction
• Governance and public policy
• Latin America and the Caribbean

Acknowledgements

Support for this research was provided by the United States Agency for International Development through awards AID-522-TO-16-00002 and AID-OAA-I-15-00019 to Dexis Consulting. The authors’ views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development, the United States Government, or Dexis Consulting.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Tom Hare is Senior Technical Associate at the Notre Dame Initiative for Global Development. His research examines violence prevention policies, programmes, and theories in Central America. Hare is the author of Zonas Peligrosas (Fordham University Press), and several articles that critically assess local and international violence prevention efforts in the region.

Laura Miller-Graff is Assistant Professor of Psychology and Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame. Her research seeks to understand how various ecological systems interact to promote or inhibit healthful development following violence exposure. Miller-Graff’s research also seeks to develop and evaluate transdiagnostic interventions in contexts where violence is systemic and chronic.

Juan Carlos Guzman is Senior Research Associate at the Notre Dame Initiative for Global Development. Guzman’s research focuses on the impact of development projects on human well-being in Central American and sub-Saharan African countries.

Additional information

Funding

Support for this research was provided by the United States Agency for International Development through awards AID-522-TO-16-00002 and AID-OAA-I-15-00019 to Dexis Consulting