School and Student Level Prevalence and Predictors of Weapon-Related Behaviors and Experiences Among Secondary Schools in California

Abstract

Importance: The first study to examine prevalence and correlates of weapon-related behaviors on school ground both on student- and school levels on a large and representative sample of a whole state. Objective: To assess the prevalence of weapon-related behaviors in secondary schools in California, their intercorrelations and predictors on the individual and school levels. Design: Secondary analysis of the California Healthy Kids survey among secondary school students in California in 2013-2015. Setting: Survey conducted in grades 7,9,11 in public schools. Participants: 889,726 students (50.5% females), from 2,641 schools. Outcome(s) and Measure(s): Dependent variables (last year): Carrying a gun in school; carrying another weapon; threatened/injured with weapon; seeing students carrying weapons. Predictors include socio-demographic characteristics of the student and family, school violence involvement (victimization, gang affiliation), and school climate. Results: Prevalence ranged from 3.1% of students carrying gun to 17.9% saw another student with a weapon. In 3.3% of schools i more than 15% of students carry a weapon and in 5.8% of schools, 15% or more were injured/threatened with weapons. Weapon-related behaviors were inter-correlated: proportion of students in school who reported carrying a gun was r=.71 (p<.001) with both the proportion of students who carried other weapons and were threatened/injured. Both student- and school level prevalence were predictable. For students, R2 ranged from 36.9%, threatened/injured to 24.5% seeing a weapon. For schools, R2 ranged from 56.3%, carrying another weapon to 45.7%, seeing a student with a weapon. The strongest predictors are the number of transgender students, gang members, and victimized students, and particularly victimized because of their disability.  Conclusions and Relevance: Tens of thousands of students are involved in weapon-related behaviors in schools. Many schools have only few involved students, while few schools have large numbers of students carrying weapons. This is important for prevention public health policies and practices. Funding Statement: None to declare Declaration of Interests: None to declare