Prevalence Of Physical Fighting Research Articles

Adolescents Who Report Being Involved in Physical Fights in Mauritius: A Cross-Sectional Study of Socio-Demographic and Behavioral Correlates

Background: violence among young people, including physical fighting, is a crucial global public health concern. There is a scarcity of evidence directed at understanding the prevalence and associated factors for physical fights among adolescents in Mauritius. This study aimed to examine the prevalence physical fighting in schools and the demographic characteristics that are associated with the phenomenon. Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional analysis of nationally representative data from Mauritius with the aim of examining the 12-month prevalence of physical fighting and frequencies of related individual and social-level characteristics. We further measured the association between physical violence and adolescent parameters using binary logistic regression analyses. Results: the participants were predominantly females (53.49%) with a mean age of 14.91 (1.47) years. Within the preceding twelve months, 15.74% of the participants reported being involved in physical fights. Among other factors, the male gender (OR = 2.6, 95% CI (1.87, 3.62)), food deprivation (OR = 2.46, 95% CI (1.41, 4.32)), bullying victimization (OR = 2.81, 95% CI (2.12, 3.73)), and cigarette use (OR = 2.07, 95% CI (1.34, 3.19)) increased the likelihood of physical fighting. The other associated factors were loneliness (OR = 1.65, 95% CI (1.11, 2.43)), physical activity (OR = 1.52, 95% CI (1.09, 2.12)), early sexual debut (OR = 2.15, 95% CI (1.17, 3.95)), and alcohol use (OR = 1.56, 95% CI (1.11, 2.21)). Conclusions: physical violence is frequent among adolescents in Mauritius; however, a comparison with previous findings in similar sub-Saharan countries suggests a reducing trend. Advocates, policymakers, and other critical stakeholders need to consider the relevant demographic and behavioral factors in formulating strategies and designing public health interventions for the prevention and control of physical violence among adolescents.

School Violence and Bullying Among Sexual Minority High School Students, 2009–2011

PurposeSchool-based victimization has short- and long-term implications for the health and academic lives of sexual minority students. This analysis assessed the prevalence and relative risk of school violence and bullying among sexual minority and heterosexual high school students. MethodsYouth Risk Behavior Survey data from 10 states and 10 large urban school districts that assessed sexual identity and had weighted data in the 2009 and/or 2011 cycle were combined to create two large population-based data sets, one containing state data and one containing district data. Prevalence of physical fighting, being threatened or injured with a weapon, weapon carrying, and being bullied on school property and not going to school because of safety concerns was calculated. Associations between these behaviors and sexual identity were identified. ResultsIn the state data, sexual minority male students were at greater risk for being threatened or injured with a weapon, not going to school because of safety concerns and being bullied than heterosexual male students. Sexual minority female students were at greater risk than heterosexual female students for all five behaviors. In the district data, with one exception, sexual minority male and female students were at greater risk for all five behaviors than heterosexual students. ConclusionsSexual minority students still routinely experience more school victimization than their heterosexual counterparts. The implementation of comprehensive, evidence-based programs and policies has the ability to reduce school violence and bullying, especially among sexual minority students.

Prevalence of, and factors associated with, adolescent physical fighting while under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Purpose To determine: (a) the prevalence of physical fighting while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and (b) the associations among demographic factors, other risk behaviors, and physical fighting while under the influence of substances. Methods Cross-sectional analysis of The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) 1994–1995, a school-based, nationally representative survey of 6504 7th to 12th graders. The dependent outcome variables of interest were: “The most recent time you got into a fight, had you been drinking?” and “Have you ever gotten into a fight when you had been using drugs?” Independent variables included: demographics, adolescent characteristics and risk behaviors, home environment, and peer substance use. Univariate and bivariate analyses, and logistic regressions, using SUDAAN, were performed for the two outcome behaviors for the overall sample (p ≤ .05). Results Eleven percent of both drinkers (n = 1110) and drug users (n = 1869) reported being under the influence while fighting. These adolescents were significantly more likely to injure or sustain injury than their counterparts. Selling drugs, gang fighting, and peer substance use were significantly associated with both outcomes. Conclusions A significant proportion of adolescents who use substances also engage in physical fighting while under the influence. Health providers should counsel their patients about the potential for injury and be mindful that concurrent fighting and substance use may be markers for other more high-risk delinquent behaviors.

Prevalence of, and factors associated with, adolescent physical fighting while under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Purpose To determine: (a) the prevalence of physical fighting while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and (b) the associations among demographic factors, other risk behaviors, and physical fighting while under the influence of substances. Methods Cross-sectional analysis of The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) 1994–1995, a school-based, nationally representative survey of 6504 7th to 12th graders. The dependent outcome variables of interest were: “The most recent time you got into a fight, had you been drinking?” and “Have you ever gotten into a fight when you had been using drugs?” Independent variables included: demographics, adolescent characteristics and risk behaviors, home environment, and peer substance use. Univariate and bivariate analyses, and logistic regressions, using SUDAAN, were performed for the two outcome behaviors for the overall sample ( p ≤ .05). Results Eleven percent of both drinkers (n = 1110) and drug users (n = 1869) reported being under the influence while fighting. These adolescents were significantly more likely to injure or sustain injury than their counterparts. Selling drugs, gang fighting, and peer substance use were significantly associated with both outcomes. Conclusions A significant proportion of adolescents who use substances also engage in physical fighting while under the influence. Health providers should counsel their patients about the potential for injury and be mindful that concurrent fighting and substance use may be markers for other more high-risk delinquent behaviors.

Adolescent figthing while under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Purpose: Fifty to sixty percent of adolescents report lifetime use of alcohol and illicit drugs and 36% have been in a physical fight at least once in the course of a year. Previous studies have demonstrated alcohol and drug use to be correlates of physical fighting among adolescents. However, little is known about the co-occurrence of adolescents being under the influence of alcohol or drugs while engaged in a physical fight. The objectives of this study were to determine: 1) the prevalence of physical fighting while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and 2) the associations between demographic factors, other risk behaviors, and physical fighting while under the influence of substances.

Illicit Substance Use, Gender, and the Risk of Violent Behavior Among Adolescents

To analyze data from a nationally representative sample of high school students to investigate the relationship between substance use and violent behavior among adolescents and to examine this relationship in both male and female adolescents. Cross-sectional analyses of the 1991 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Public and private schools in the 50 states. The participants were 12,272 high school students. To determine the prevalence of weapon carrying and physical fighting among male and female adolescents. A significant increase in the number of male and female adolescents carrying weapons and physically fighting was associated with all forms of substance use. Reports of carrying a weapon increased with recent alcohol consumption (34% vs 17%, P < .001) and use of marijuana (48% vs 22%, P < .001), cocaine (71% vs 25%, P < .001), and anabolic steroids (62% vs 25%, P < .001). The prevalence of physical fighting was also significantly higher among adolescents who used illicit substances than among adolescents who denied drug use. The risk of violent behavior increased significantly, and was of equal magnitude, for adolescent females and males who were illicit substance users. Alcohol and illicit substance use are highly associated with an increased risk of violent behavior. These data also demonstrate that the risk of violence by adolescent females who are substance users is substantial.