“The Educational Outcomes of Violence: A Systematic Evidence and Gap Map of Research From South America”

Abstract

Exposure to violence in childhood and adolescence is linked to adverse educational outcomes. Research from South America is underrepresented in evidence syntheses on the topic, despite being among the most violent regions worldwide. Attending to this problem, this systematic review characterizes and maps available evidence on the relationship between violence exposure and educational outcomes in South America. Using a preregistered protocol, we searched original empirical peer-reviewed studies published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese between 2012 and 2024 across multiple databases, Google Scholar, reference scanning, and expert consultation. Eligible studies examined any form of violence exposure and a broad range of educational outcomes in pre-primary, primary, or secondary school populations in South America. Information regarding independent, outcome, and mediating variables, study design, and publication characteristics was extracted and presented in an interactive evidence atlas. Studies were assessed using the Quality Appraisal for Diverse Studies tool. Thirty-nine, out of 1,123 identified documents, met the inclusion criteria. Most research was from Brazil (35.9%) and Colombia (30.8%), addressing school (39.6%) and community violence (22.6%). Non-traditional educational outcomes (e.g., school climate, social-emotional skills) were frequently studied. Study quality varied greatly, and a quantitative cross-sectional design was employed predominantly in 69.2% of the studies. Research on violence and educational outcomes in South America presents methodological, geographic, and population gaps. Greater methodological diversity, improved research infrastructure, international collaborations, and inclusive multilingual publication practices could allow for better research quality, coverage and accessibility. Findings highlight the need for a context-sensitive conceptual framework to understand violence’s impact on children.

Keywords

violence educational outcomes systematic review South America childhood adversity

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