 |
|
A Cross-national Study of Violence-Related Behaviors in Adolescents
Eleanor Smith-Khuri, MD;
Ronaldo Iachan, PhD;
Peter C. Scheidt, MD, MPH;
Mary D. Overpeck, DrPH;
Saoirse Nic Gabhainn, PhD;
William Pickett, PhD;
Yossi Harel, PhD
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004;158:539-544.
Background Violent behavior among adolescents is a significant problem worldwide, and a cross-national comparison of adolescent violent behaviors can provide information about the development and pattern of physical violence in young adolescents.
Objectives To determine and compare frequencies of adolescent violence-related behaviors in 5 countries and to examine associations between violence-related behaviors and potential explanatory characteristics.
Design, Setting, and Participants Cross-sectional, school-based nationally representative survey at ages 11.5, 13.5, and 15.5 years in 5 countries (Ireland, Israel, Portugal, Sweden, and the United States).
Main Outcome Measures Frequency of physical fighting, bullying, weapon carrying, and fighting injuries in relation to other risk behaviors and characteristics in home and school settings.
Results Fighting frequency among US youth was similar to that of all 5 countries (nonfighters: US, 60.2%; mean frequency of 5 countries, 60.2%), as were the frequencies of weapon carrying (noncarriers: US, 89.6%; mean frequency of 5 countries, 89.6%) and fighting injury (noninjured: US, 84.5%; mean frequency of 5 countries, 84.6%). Bullying frequency varied widely cross-nationally (nonbullies: from 57.0% for Israel to 85.2% for Sweden). Fighting was most highly associated with smoking, drinking, feeling irritable or bad tempered, and having been bullied.
Conclusions Adolescents in 5 countries behaved similarly in their expression of violence-related behaviors. Occasional fighting and bullying were common, whereas frequent fighting, frequent bullying, any weapon carrying, or any fighting injury were infrequent behaviors. These findings were consistent across countries, with little cross-national variation except for bullying rates. Traditional risk-taking behaviors (smoking and drinking) and being bullied were highly associated with the expression of violence-related behavior.
From the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md (Drs Smith-Khuri and Scheidt), Macro International Inc, Calverton (Dr Iachan), and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Rockville, Md (Dr Overpeck); Department of Health Promotion, National University of Ireland, Galway (Dr Nic Gabhainn); Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Queens University, Kingston, Ontario (Dr Pickett); and Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel (Dr Harel).
RELATED ARTICLE
Adolescent Violence: Is It the Same Everywhere?
James A. Mercy and Linda L. Dahlberg
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004;158(6):592-594.
EXTRACT
| FULL TEXT
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
Anger expression, negative life events and violent behaviour among male college students in Ethiopia
Gelaye et al.
Scand J Public Health 2008;36:538-545.
ABSTRACT
Worldview of High-Risk Juvenile Delinquents: Relationship to Decisions to Shoot
Goldberg
Criminal Justice and Behavior 2007;34:846-861.
ABSTRACT
Risk Factors for Violence and Relational Aggression in Adolescence
Herrenkohl et al.
J Interpers Violence 2007;22:386-405.
ABSTRACT
Cross-national Study of Fighting and Weapon Carrying as Determinants of Adolescent Injury
Pickett et al.
Pediatrics 2005;116:e855-e863.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Adolescent Violence: Is It the Same Everywhere?
Mercy and Dahlberg
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2004;158:592-594.
FULL TEXT
|
