Physical fighting among school-going Portuguese adolescents: Social and behavioural correlates

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2011

Authors

Sílvia Fraga (Author) FMUP; Ramos E (Author) FMUP; Dias, S (Author) Other; Barros H (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Preventive Medicine

Vol. 52

Pages: 401-404

ISSN: 0091-7435

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 20 Citations

Scopus - 39 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-S29

DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2011.02.015

Abstract (EN): Objective. The purpose of this study was to estimate the frequency and to assess the determinants of physical fighting among Portuguese school-going adolescents. Methods. A cross-sectional evaluation of urban adolescents born in 1990 and enrolled in public and private schools of Porto was performed in 2007. We identified 3,161 17-year-old eligible adolescents and 73.3% accepted to participate. Information was collected using a self-administered questionnaire assessing socio-demographic, behavioural, family and health-related characteristics. The magnitude of the associations between those characteristics and physical fighting was estimated using logistic regression. Results. Overall, 33.8% of adolescents (48.6% of boys and 20.1% of girls; p < 0.001) engaged in a physical fight during the previous 12 months. The school premises were the most frequently reported setting where fights occurred (girls-41.2% and boys-46.7%, p = 0.179). After adjustment, and in both genders, we found statistically significant associations between physical fighting and grade retention, smoking, drinking and age at first sexual intercourse. Conclusion. Physical fighting among school-going adolescents is frequent, tends to occur at school premises and to cluster with other well recognized adverse health behaviours.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 4