title: Reasons for Fighting among Violent Female Adolescents: A Qualitative Investigation from an Urban, Midwestern Community.
abstract: This qualitative study examines the self-reported reasons for fighting among female adolescents (N = 72). Data are drawn from brief intervention sessions addressing violent behavior and alcohol use. Young women age 14 to 18 (Mean = 16) were recruited in an urban emergency department (58.3% African American/Black, 31.9% White, and 9.7% other races/ethnicities). Participants identified multiple reasons that they engage in fights including self-protection/self-defense, enhancing social status and respect, safety (e.g., preventing future fights or sexual assaults), revenge/retaliation, social motivations (e.g., defending family or friends, fighting over romantic interests), coping, and enjoyment. Results provide insight into opportunities and challenges in developing interventions addressing aggression among female adolescents.
authors.affiliation: a Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute, Wayne State University , and, Detroit , Michigan , USA.
authors.forename: Stella M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Resko
authors.affiliation: b School of Public Health, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , Michigan , USA.
authors.forename: Ebony C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Reddock
authors.affiliation: c Injury Prevention Center, Department of Emergency Medicine , Alpert Medical School, Brown University , Providence , Rhode Island , USA.
authors.forename: Megan L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ranney
authors.affiliation: d Institute for Research on Women and Gender, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , Michigan , USA.
authors.forename: Quyen
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Epstein-Ngo
authors.affiliation: e School of Social Work , Wayne State University , Detroit , Michigan , USA.
authors.forename: Sarah Kruman
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mountain
authors.affiliation: b School of Public Health, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , Michigan , USA.
authors.forename: Marc A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.affiliation: f School of Public Health and Injury Center, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , Michigan.|g Department of Emergency Medicine , Hurley Medical Center , Flint , Michigan , USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.affiliation: h Injury Center and Addiction Research Center, Department of Psychiatry , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , Michigan , USA.
authors.forename: Maureen A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Walton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015146:Midwestern United States; D036301:Qualitative Research; D057566:Self Report; D000066608:Underage Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control; D014505:Urban Population; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: adolescence; brief interventions; females; fighting; peer violence; violence prevention; youth violence