The Fighting Behavior of Asian–Pacific Males in Guam: Do High School Extracurricular Activities Matter?

Abstract

Objective. We predicted that the social integrative effects resulting from participation in high school extracurricular activities would reduce the physical fighting behavior of Asian–Pacific males in Guam, a population that is known for excessively high levels of physical fighting. Methods. Using ordinary least squares multiple regression analysis we tested the hypothesis with a probability sample of Guam’s Asian–Pacific high school students. Results. Controlling for age, ethnicity, gender, and a number of risk and protective factors, males who participated in extracurricular activities were found to be less likely than others to participate in physical fighting, and extracurricular activities buffered the effects of males’ participation in physical fights. Conclusions. Males who participate in extracurricular activities are integrated into their school environment such that they are less likely to report participation in physical fights. The implications of our findings for theory and future research are discussed.