Educational attainment is the highest ... - Massachusetts Health Data Tool

Educational Attainment and Violence

Educational attainment is the highest level of education a person completes.^[] All levels of education might reduce the risk of violence. Higher levels of education are more protective.

Level of Education	How It Reduces Risk of Violence
Early childhood like preschool or daycare	Fosters positive child development. Fosters healthy socialization. Fosters healthy conflict resolution. Supports children who have learned aggressive behaviors. Intervenes when educators see signs of neglect or abuse. In some cases, teaches caregivers how to nurture and accept their children. In some cases, provides caregiver support groups These caregiver supports are important because children who experience early neglect or abuse are more likely to experience violence later in life. Every dollar spent on early childhood education programs saves seven dollars in later criminal justice system costs.
Elementary school	All of the above. Teaches emotional awareness and problem-solving methods. Promotes healthier ideas about violence. This helps prevent aggressive behaviors from continuing into adulthood.
Secondary school (middle, high school)	All of the above. Might provide education that helps prevent sexual, dating, and intimate partner violence. Improves job opportunities. Fosters sense of empowerment. Having enough education to get a job with good pay and benefits can make it easier to separate from an abusive partner.

Level of Education

How It Reduces Risk of Violence

Early childhood like preschool or daycare

Fosters positive child development.
Fosters healthy socialization.
Fosters healthy conflict resolution.
Supports children who have learned aggressive behaviors.
Intervenes when educators see signs of neglect or abuse.
In some cases, teaches caregivers how to nurture and accept their children.
In some cases, provides caregiver support groups

These caregiver supports are important because children who experience early neglect or abuse are more likely to experience violence later in life. Every dollar spent on early childhood education programs saves seven dollars in later criminal justice system costs.

Elementary school

All of the above.
Teaches emotional awareness and problem-solving methods.
Promotes healthier ideas about violence.

This helps prevent aggressive behaviors from continuing into adulthood.

Secondary school (middle, high school)

All of the above.
Might provide education that helps prevent sexual, dating, and intimate partner violence.
Improves job opportunities.
Fosters sense of empowerment.

Having enough education to get a job with good pay and benefits can make it easier to separate from an abusive partner.

[VED7] US Census Bureau. (2022). Educational attainment. https://www.census.gov/topics/education/educational-attainment.html