Advances in the Study of Interpersonal Youth Violence: Psychosocial Mechanisms, Health Impact, and Prevention Strategies

Interpersonal youth violence represents a multifactorial phenomenon and a growing concern within psychology, public health, and related applied disciplines. It encompasses different forms of violence perpetrated by adolescents and young people across family, school, community, peer, and romantic relationship contexts, including child-to-parent violence, sibling violence, peer violence, and dating violence. Social concern arises not only from its prevalence but also from its significant psychological, social, and health-related repercussions. Despite growing research interest, important gaps remain in understanding the psychosocial processes underlying the emergence, co-occurrence, and persistence of these behaviors.

Accumulating evidence shows that different forms of interpersonal youth violence tend to co-occur rather than appear in isolation, sharing overlapping risk and protective factors across individual, family, peer, and socio-cultural environments. This pattern underscores the need for integrative approaches that consider youth violence as a complex and interconnected phenomenon. However, key questions persist regarding the psychosocial and contextual mechanisms that initiate, maintain, and intensify violent behaviors, as well as the broader consequences of these processes for adolescent adjustment and psychosocial functioning.

This Research Topic aims to advance knowledge on interpersonal youth violence by examining the psychosocial and contextual mechanisms involved in its origin, development, and maintenance, alongside its psychosocial and health-related consequences. By combining explanatory perspectives with applied implications, the objective is to strengthen theoretical models and contribute evidence relevant for prevention, intervention, and policy design. Central questions include: Which psychosocial processes (e.g., emotional regulation, social cognition, social norms, attitudes toward violence...) and contextual factors (e.g., family dynamics, peer relationships, community and digital environments...) are most strongly associated with youth violence? How do cultural and socioeconomic contexts shape these processes? Which prevention and intervention strategies are most effective in reducing harm and promoting adaptive functioning among adolescents and young people?

This Research Topic welcomes empirical and theoretical work that contributes to a deeper understanding of interpersonal youth violence across contexts. Submissions may employ a variety of methodological approaches, provided they address mechanisms, risk and protective factors, or outcomes relevant to prevention and intervention. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

- Psychosocial mechanisms involved in the emergence and maintenance of different forms of youth violence.
- The role of family, school, community, and online contexts in exacerbating or mitigating violent behaviors.
- Protective and risk factors associated with youth violence across diverse populations.
- Psychosocial and health-related outcomes associated with interpersonal youth violence.
- The contribution of cultural, socioeconomic, and digital variables to youth violence
- Evaluation of psychosocial evidence-based prevention programs, intervention strategies, and digital tools

Appendix: We welcome longitudinal and cross-sectional empirical studies, methodological research, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. This Research Topic seeks to inform evidence-based practice and policy, and to foster dialogue among researchers and professionals working to reduce youth violence and promote wellbeing among adolescents and young people.

Keywords: juvenile violence, child-to-parent violence, dating violence, peer violence, sibling violence, adolescents, young people

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.