Violence among secondary school students in Assiut district

Abstract EN

Background: Violence by young people is one of the most visible forms of violence in society.

Violence among adolescents may have serious developmental, physical and mental health consequences for the affected individuals.

Violent youth are more likely than their peers to have poor mental health, use drugs, drop out of school, and be delinquent.

Aim of the study: Describe pattern, magnitude, and determinants of violence among secondary school students.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of 1,404 secondary school students was conducted in Assiut, Egypt, 2004-2005, using a self-administered questionnaire.

'Youth self-report' scale of Achenbach was used to measure 'aggression'.

Other measures of violence were included: physical fighting and weapon carrying.

The main independent variables included in the study were: age, gender, religion, residence, smoking, family bonding, attitude towards violence, depression, victimization and conflict resolution skills.

Results: 59.8% of students were involved in a physical fight in the last 12 months prior to the survey, with significant gender differences and boys being more likely lo be involved in such a behavior.

Weapon carrying was reported almost exclusively by boys.

In the logistic regression analysis victimization, poor self-control, poor cooperation, and possessing altitudes with a positive violence orientation were found to be strong predictors of aggression and violence.

Conclusion: Violence is a seriously growing behavior among secondary school students that needs to be addressed through school health program.

Investing in healthy development of adolescents pays off in mental health of tomorrow's adults.