Trends and demographic characteristics of physical fighting and fighting-related injuries among Canadian youth, 1993–2010

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Physical fighting is a behaviour of concern that puts adolescents at increased risk for injury. The study objectives were to: 1) describe current patterns of physical fighting and fighting-related injury among Canadian adolescents, and 2) investigate potential trends in fighting and fighting-related injuries during the period 1993-2010. METHODS:Canadian data from cycles 2-6 (1993-2010) of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study were used, giving cross-sections for 61,465 grade 6-10 students. Prevalence estimates for physical fighting and fighting-related injury were calculated and described by sex, grade and subjective social status. A trend analysis was conducted across time cycles overall and within subgroups.RESULTS: A significant increase over time for physical fights was observed overall (p trend = 0.015) and within female, grade 7-8, and high status subgroups, although further time points are necessary to determine this pattern with certainty. There was a significant trend increase over time for fighting-related injury overall and within all subgroups (p trend < 0.001). Males were twice as likely as females to report a physical fight (p < 0.001) and fighting-related injury (p < 0.044). There was a significant decreased likelihood of physical fight involvement from lower to higher grades (p < 0.001), and an increased probability of fighting-related injury with increasing grades for three of five HBSC cycles. Subjective lower status was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of reporting a physical fight at all time points (p < 0.001) and fighting-related injury in three of five HBSC cycles.CONCLUSION: Specific subgroups are more likely to report physical fight participation and sustaining a fighting injury. Understanding the context and trends of these outcomes is informative for public health interventions.KEY WORDS: Adolescence; epidemiology; injury; physical fighting; trends La traduction du résumé se trouve à la fin de l'article.

Análise temporal e avaliação de desigualdade em vitimização por bullying verbal, violência física familiar, violência sexual e envolvimento em brigas com uso de armas, entre adolescentes brasileiros

“…A variável escolaridade materna apresentou cerca de 18%, 17% e 23% de dados faltantes Idade (anos) ≤ 13 24,4 (23,3-25,5) 19,0 (18,1-19,9) 20,3 (19,3-21,4) 14 47,2 (46,3) 50,1 (49,0-51,2) 52,4 (51,3-53,6) 15 18,2 (17,2-19,3) 19,4 (18,(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)2) 18,5 (17,(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)4) ≥16 10,2 (09,4-10,9) 11,5 (10,(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)4) 8,8 (8,…”

“…Ensino fundamental incompleto 36,1 (34,5) 33,1 (31,9) 27,1 (25,6) Ensino fundamental completo 14,6 (14,1-15,1) 15,7 (15,(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)3) 13,8 (13,(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)5) Ensino médio completo 31,1 (30,2) 34,9 (33,9) 34,8 (33,8) Ensino superior completo 18,2 (17,0-19,4) 16,3 (14,(5)(6)(7)…”

“…Violência doméstica 9,5 (9,0-10,0) 11,6 (11,1-12,1) 16,2 (15,(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)8) Briga com uso de arma de fogo 4,0 (3,7-4,3) 6,9 (6,6-7,3) 5,6 (5,2-6,0)…”

“…Briga com uso de arma branca 6,1 (5,4) 8,3 (7,7) 8,2 (7,(6)(7)(8)7) Bullying verbal 14,2 (13,(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)7) 16,5 (15,(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)1) 21,7 (21,4)…”

“…Nos Estados Unidos houve tendência de redução no envolvimento em luta física entre adolescentes no período de 2002 a 2014 12 , além de redução de bullying e de maus tratos infantis nos anos de 2003 a 201113 . Em contrapartida, entre jovens canadenses houve tendência crescente de agressão física entre os anos de 1993 a 201014 . No Brasil, em Belo Horizonte e região metropolitana evidenciou-se o aumento de homicídios em quase todas as faixas etárias, especialmente para os homens15 .…”