Physical fighting among adolescents is of public health concern both because of the potential for fight-related injuries and its association with participation in many other health risk behaviors. Physical fighting is a relatively common behavior among adolescents. Using data the 1995 National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), we find that among 7th-12th grade students, 42% of males and 23% of females participated in at least one physical fight in the prior 12 months. However, past studies have not considered that this measure likely encompasses a broad range of experiences that may pose different levels of direct and indirect health consequences. To address this issue, this study examines variability in the experiences of students involved in physical fights, such as the frequency or intensity of their fights, and the extent to which these experiences are differentially associated with participation in other health risk behaviors. Data come from self-reports of 20,746 students in the 1995 Add Health. First, we describe the range of physical fighting experiences. Characteristics of fights examined include: frequency of fighting in past 12 months, person last fight was with, location of last fight, and intensity of fight (self or other person injured). Second we estimate multivariate logistic regression models of the strength of the association of each type of fighting experience with other health risk behaviors, including weapon use, substance use, suicidal behaviors and sexual risk taking. Analyses are conducted separately by gender. Multivariate controls include grade, race/ethnicity, neighborhood, school and family characteristics.
Learning Objectives: At the close of this session, participants will be able to: 1) describe the prevalence of physical fighting among adolescents, 2) enumerate differences in types of fights in which adolescents participate and 3) identify which types of physical fighting are associated with increased risk taking
Keywords: Violence, Risky Behaviors
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.