Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #117106

Harry T. Kwon, MPH, CHES¹, Min Qi Wang, PhD¹, and Derek J. Inokuchi, MHS, CHES². (1) Department of Public and Community Health, University of Maryland, CHHP, College Park, MD 20742, 301-572-0303, hkwon@umd.edu, (2) ORC Macro, 11785 Beltsville Dr., Calverton, MD 20705

Alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD) are a significant public health concern among youth. Violence-related activities are a major source of preventable injury. However, acts of violence, such as physical fighting, date violence, and forcible sex, are becoming more common among youth. This study examined associations between ATOD, behavioral, and demographic factors and violence using data (N=15,214) from the 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). The weighted univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed using Survey Data Analysis (SUDAAN) software to adjust the standard error estimate of the multi-stage sampling. Four binary, violence-related outcome variables (physical fights, carrying a weapon, date violence, and forced sex) were examined. The significant predictors from the univariate model for each of the violence-related variables were tobacco use, multiple illicit drug use including alcohol use, age, sex, grade, academic grades, and multiple sex partners. The multivariate model revealed that youth who engaged in multiple illicit drug use, used tobacco, had multiple sex partners, and had poor academic grades were more likely to report physical fighting, carrying a weapon, and forced sex. Further, youth who used multiple illicit drugs were more likely than alcohol only users to report physical fights (OR=3.15, CI 2.73-3.63), carrying a weapon (OR=3.35, CI 2.79-4.03), date violence (OR=1.62, CI 1.30-2.01), and forced sex (OR1.79, CI 1.40-2.28). Health educators can use these findings to help develop programs targeting all high school students.

Learning Objectives: Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to
• List ATOD, behavioral and demographic factors associated with involvement in violence among high school students. 2) Contrast the profiles of high school students who reported engaging in violence related behaviors. 3) Suggest potential areas for prevention interventions suggested by these findings. 4) Discuss future research directions suggested by these findings.

Keywords: Adolescents, Youth Violence

Presenting author's disclosure statement:


I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Trends, Patterns, and Correlates of Adolescent Substance Use Poster Session

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA