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Physical Fighting and Associated Factors among Adolescents Aged 13–15 Years in Six Western Pacific Countries

Author

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  • Lili Yang

    (Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China)

  • Yuanyuan Zhang

    (Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China)

  • Bo Xi

    (Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China)

  • Pascal Bovet

    (Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University Hospital Center, 1010 Lausanne, Switzerland)

Abstract

Youth violence is an important public health challenge around the world, yet the literature on this problem in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has been limited. The present study aims to examine the prevalence of adolescent physical fighting (defined as having been involved in at least one physical fight during the past 12 months) in selected LMICs, and its relations with potential risk factors. We included 6377 school-going adolescents aged 13–15 years from six Western Pacific (WP) countries that had recently conducted a Global School-based Student Health Survey. Information was gathered through a self-administered anonymous closed-ended questionnaire. The prevalence of adolescent physical fighting varied across countries, ranging from 34.5% in Kiribati to 63.3% in Samoa. The prevalence was higher in boys than in girls, and lower at age 15 than 13–14 years. Physical fighting was significantly associated (pooled odds ratios (ORs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs)) with smoking (1.78, 1.53–2.06), drinking (1.57, 1.33–1.85), drug use (1.72, 1.33–2.23), and missing school (1.72, 1.51–1.95). The association with physical fighting increased with increasing number of joint adverse behaviors (increased from 1.99 (1.73–2.29) for one risk behavior to 4.95 (4.03–6.07) for at least 3 risk behaviors, versus having none of the 4 risk behaviors). The high prevalence of physical fighting and the associations with risk behaviors emphasize the need for comprehensive prevention programs to reduce youth violence and associated risk behaviors.

Suggested Citation

  • Lili Yang & Yuanyuan Zhang & Bo Xi & Pascal Bovet, 2017. "Physical Fighting and Associated Factors among Adolescents Aged 13–15 Years in Six Western Pacific Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-10, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:11:p:1427-:d:119755
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gottlieb, Nell H. & Baker, Judith A., 1986. "The relative influence of health beliefs, parental and peer behaviors and exercise program participation on smoking, alcohol use and physical activity," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 22(9), pages 915-927, January.
    2. Mahalik, James R. & Burns, Shaun M. & Syzdek, Matthew, 2007. "Masculinity and perceived normative health behaviors as predictors of men's health behaviors," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(11), pages 2201-2209, June.
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    1. Adina Bucur & Sorin Ursoniu & Constantin Caraion-Buzdea & Virgil Ciobanu & Silvia Florescu & Cristian Vladescu, 2020. "Aggressive Behaviors among 15–16-Year-Old Romanian High School Students: Results from Two Consecutive Surveys Related to Alcohol and Other Drug Use at the European Level," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-14, May.
    2. Masood Ali Shaikh & Anne Abio & Karen L. Celedonia & Michael Lowery Wilson, 2019. "Physical Fighting among School-Attending Adolescents in Pakistan: Associated Factors and Contextual Influences," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-11, December.

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