title: Psychosocial characteristics associated with frequent physical fighting: findings from the 2009 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
abstract: The goal of the current study was to determine the prevalence and psychosocial correlates associated with frequent fighting among US high school students. Cross-sectional analyses were conducted using the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (N=16 410). Multivariate logistic regression analyses determined associations between demographic and psychosocial correlates of frequent fighting. Among students, 13.6% reported fighting once, 15.3% reported fighting 2-11 times and 2.6% reported fighting 12 or more times in the past year. Risk factors associated with frequent fighting were weapon carrying (adjusted OR=10.55; 95% CI 7.40 to 15.05), suicide attempt (adjusted OR=6.16; 95% CI 3.70 to 10.28), binge drinking (adjusted OR=3.15; 95% CI 2.16 to 4.59) and feeling too unsafe to go to school (adjusted OR=3.09; 95% CI 2.00 to 4.77). There is a clear need to better understand the patterns and psychosocial characteristics of frequent physical fighting and the prevention and interventions strategies that may be most relevant for these vulnerable youth.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA. MSwahn@gsu.edu
authors.forename: Monica H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Swahn
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bossarte
authors.forename: Jane B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Palmier
authors.forename: Huang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Manfred H M
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Van Dulmen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*