title: Knowledge and Practice of Junior and Senior High School Students Regarding Violent Behaviors in Isfahan Province.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Considering the importance of anger, aggression, violence and other misbehaviours in schoolchildren education, the present study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge and practice of students in Isfahan province regarding violence, in order to figure out the required interventions for violence-reduction.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a survey during 2008-2009, 5500 junior and senior high school students of Isfahan province were assessed in a multistage sampling process to determine their level of knowledge about various types of violent behaviors, causes of violence, its consequences, and preventive behaviors. Validity and reliability of the data collection tool (questionnaire) were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study revealed that the mean scores of violent behaviors knowledge, knowledge of violent behavior outcomes, and knowledge of violence preventive behaviors, were 6.6 ± 2.1, 5.5 ± 1.9, and 4.7 ± 1.3, respectively. Sources of violent behaviors in 92% of urban students and 89% of rural students were personal reasons and family behaviors, and 85% of urban and 88% of rural students considered mass media and computer games blameworthy, and the differences were statistically significant in all cases (P < 0.0001). In terms of practice, overall, 69.7% of girls and 84.2% of boys had violent behaviors. Physical and verbal violence were 31.3% and 40.7%in girls, and 66% and 52.8% in boys, respectively (intersexes P values were P < 0.001 and P = 0.7 respectively, and intra-sex P value was P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results showed that girls and city dwellers were more aware of recognizing violent behaviors, outcomes, and causes, compared with boys and villagers, and in terms of general practice, violence was observed among boys more than girls. Further complementary studies in this area seem required.
authors.affiliation: Provincial Health Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Razieh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Omidi
authors.affiliation: Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Kamal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heidari
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Arash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramezani
authors.affiliation: Provincial Health Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amini
authors.affiliation: Fellowship of Psychology, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Shiva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamrooz
authors.affiliation: Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ziba
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Farajzadegan
authors.affiliation: Provincial Health Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Rezvan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pashmi
authors.affiliation: Cultural Deputy of Art-Isfahan province, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyyed Azim
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Fatemi
authors.affiliation: Isfahan Provincial Education and Training Organization, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bagheri
authors.affiliation: Social Security Command Assistance, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Abolfazl
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salimi
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Anahita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Babak
keywords: Knowledge; practice; student; violence