Citation

Davis LE, Abio A, Wilson ML, Shaikh MA. PeerJ 2020; 2020(3).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, PeerJ)

DOI

10.7717/peerj.9075

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Background. Physical fighting is particularly detrimental for young people, often affecting other areas of their developing lives, such as relationships with friends and family and participating in risky behaviors. We aim to quantify the amount of problematic physical fighting in Namibian adolescents and identify modifiable risk factors for intervention.

METHODS. We used the Namibia 2013 Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS). This survey collects health-related information on school-attending adolescents in grades 7 to 12. We defined physical fighting as having participated in at least two physical fights in the 12 months prior to responding to the survey. Factors that may be associated with physical fighting were identified a prior based on the literature and included age, sex, anxiety, suicide planning, truancy, physical activity, bullying victimization, presence of supportive parental figures, presence of helpful peers, extent of social network, and food insecurity. Multivariable logistic regression models were created to identify factors associated with physical fighting.

RESULTS. A total of 4,510 adolescents were included in the study. A total of 52.7% female. 16.9% of adolescents reported engaging in at least two physical fights in the previous year. Factors associated with an increased odds of physical fighting included having a suicide plan, anxiety, truancy, food deprivation and being bullied. Increased age and loneliness were associated with a decreased odds of physical fighting.

CONCLUSION. This study identifies problematic physical fighting among adolescents in Namibia. We recommend public health and school-based programming that simultaneously targets risk behaviours and conflict resolution to reduce rates of physical fighting. © Copyright 2020 Davis et al.

Language: en

Keywords

adolescent; human; suicide; child; female; male; Adolescence; prevalence; aggression; public health; anxiety; bullying; loneliness; physical activity; social network; measurement; risk factor; alcohol consumption; major clinical study; questionnaire; victim; clinical practice; statistical analysis; family violence; behavior; smoking; life satisfaction; automutilation; health survey; high risk behavior; fighting; demography; underweight; Article; Sub-Saharan Africa; health disparity; Physical fighting; food deprivation; truancy; sexual violence; sedentary lifestyle; cannabis use; food insecurity; peer acceptance