The Prevalence of Very Frequent Physical Fighting among Boys and Girls in 27 Countries and Cities: Regional and Gender Differences

Objective. Using nationally representative data, this study examined the prevalence of very frequent physical fighting (≥12 times per year) among youth in 27 countries and cities. Frequent physical fighting has rarely been reported in the previous literature despite the implications for research and...

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Main Authors: Monica H. Swahn, Lindsay Gressard, Jane B. Palmier, Huang Yao, Melissa Haberlen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2013-01-01
Series:Journal of Environmental and Public Health
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/215126
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spelling doaj-8abbda6cad7347168408cb915b3cb6fd2020-11-24T23:19:36ZengHindawi LimitedJournal of Environmental and Public Health1687-98051687-98132013-01-01201310.1155/2013/215126215126The Prevalence of Very Frequent Physical Fighting among Boys and Girls in 27 Countries and Cities: Regional and Gender DifferencesMonica H. Swahn0Lindsay Gressard1Jane B. Palmier2Huang Yao3Melissa Haberlen4Institute of Public Health, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 3995, Atlanta, GA 30302-3995, USAInstitute of Public Health, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 3995, Atlanta, GA 30302-3995, USAInstitute of Public Health, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 3995, Atlanta, GA 30302-3995, USAInstitute of Public Health, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 3995, Atlanta, GA 30302-3995, USAInstitute of Public Health, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 3995, Atlanta, GA 30302-3995, USAObjective. Using nationally representative data, this study examined the prevalence of very frequent physical fighting (≥12 times per year) among youth in 27 countries and cities. Frequent physical fighting has rarely been reported in the previous literature despite the implications for research and practice. Methods. Analyses were based on the Global School-based Student Health Survey (2003–2008) and the 2009 US Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Multinomial regression analyses were conducted to determine gender differences in frequent fighting. Countries were categorized into five regions (Sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Eastern Mediterranean, and the United States), and one-way ANOVA tests were used to determine regional differences. Results. The prevalence of frequent fighting was highest in Zambia (7.7%) and lowest in Myanmar (0.5%). Gender differences were found in 20 countries, with boys being more likely to report frequent fighting than girls. The prevalence of frequent fighting varied by region (, ), with the Eastern Mediterranean having a significantly higher prevalence of frequent fighting than Asia . Conclusion. The prevalence of frequent fighting varies by gender in many countries and varies across world regions. More cross-national research is needed to better understand the sociocultural context of frequent fighting and to inform youth violence prevention efforts.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/215126
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Monica H. Swahn
Lindsay Gressard
Jane B. Palmier
Huang Yao
Melissa Haberlen
spellingShingle Monica H. Swahn
Lindsay Gressard
Jane B. Palmier
Huang Yao
Melissa Haberlen
The Prevalence of Very Frequent Physical Fighting among Boys and Girls in 27 Countries and Cities: Regional and Gender Differences
Journal of Environmental and Public Health
author_facet Monica H. Swahn
Lindsay Gressard
Jane B. Palmier
Huang Yao
Melissa Haberlen
author_sort Monica H. Swahn
title The Prevalence of Very Frequent Physical Fighting among Boys and Girls in 27 Countries and Cities: Regional and Gender Differences
title_short The Prevalence of Very Frequent Physical Fighting among Boys and Girls in 27 Countries and Cities: Regional and Gender Differences
title_full The Prevalence of Very Frequent Physical Fighting among Boys and Girls in 27 Countries and Cities: Regional and Gender Differences
title_fullStr The Prevalence of Very Frequent Physical Fighting among Boys and Girls in 27 Countries and Cities: Regional and Gender Differences
title_full_unstemmed The Prevalence of Very Frequent Physical Fighting among Boys and Girls in 27 Countries and Cities: Regional and Gender Differences
title_sort prevalence of very frequent physical fighting among boys and girls in 27 countries and cities: regional and gender differences
publisher Hindawi Limited
series Journal of Environmental and Public Health
issn 1687-9805
1687-9813
publishDate 2013-01-01
description Objective. Using nationally representative data, this study examined the prevalence of very frequent physical fighting (≥12 times per year) among youth in 27 countries and cities. Frequent physical fighting has rarely been reported in the previous literature despite the implications for research and practice. Methods. Analyses were based on the Global School-based Student Health Survey (2003–2008) and the 2009 US Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Multinomial regression analyses were conducted to determine gender differences in frequent fighting. Countries were categorized into five regions (Sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Eastern Mediterranean, and the United States), and one-way ANOVA tests were used to determine regional differences. Results. The prevalence of frequent fighting was highest in Zambia (7.7%) and lowest in Myanmar (0.5%). Gender differences were found in 20 countries, with boys being more likely to report frequent fighting than girls. The prevalence of frequent fighting varied by region (, ), with the Eastern Mediterranean having a significantly higher prevalence of frequent fighting than Asia . Conclusion. The prevalence of frequent fighting varies by gender in many countries and varies across world regions. More cross-national research is needed to better understand the sociocultural context of frequent fighting and to inform youth violence prevention efforts.
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/215126
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