A cross-national study of violence-related behaviors in adolescents.
BACKGROUND
Violent behavior among adolescents is a significant problem worldwide, and a cross-national comparison of adolescent violent behaviors can provide information about the development and pattern of physical violence in young adolescents.


OBJECTIVE
To determine and compare frequencies of adolescent violence-related behaviors in 5 countries and to examine associations between violence-related behaviors and potential explanatory characteristics.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, school-based nationally representative survey at ages 11.5, 13.5, and 15.5 years in 5 countries (Ireland, Israel, Portugal, Sweden, and the United States).


METHODS
Frequency of physical fighting, bullying, weapon carrying, and fighting injuries in relation to other risk behaviors and characteristics in home and school settings.


RESULTS
Fighting frequency among US youth was similar to that of all 5 countries (nonfighters: US, 60.2%; mean frequency of 5 countries, 60.2%), as were the frequencies of weapon carrying (noncarriers: US, 89.6%; mean frequency of 5 countries, 89.6%) and fighting injury (noninjured: US, 84.5%; mean frequency of 5 countries, 84.6%). Bullying frequency varied widely cross-nationally (nonbullies: from 57.0% for Israel to 85.2% for Sweden). Fighting was most highly associated with smoking, drinking, feeling irritable or bad tempered, and having been bullied.


CONCLUSIONS
Adolescents in 5 countries behaved similarly in their expression of violence-related behaviors. Occasional fighting and bullying were common, whereas frequent fighting, frequent bullying, any weapon carrying, or any fighting injury were infrequent behaviors. These findings were consistent across countries, with little cross-national variation except for bullying rates. Traditional risk-taking behaviors (smoking and drinking) and being bullied were highly associated with the expression of violence-related behavior.
Smith-Khuri
Eleanor
E
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Iachan
Ronaldo
R
Scheidt
Peter C
PC
Overpeck
Mary D
MD
Gabhainn
Saoirse Nic
SN
Pickett
William
W
Harel
Yossi
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology