A Cross-National Study of Violence-Related Behaviors in Adolescents

Background: Violent behavior among adolescents is a
significant problem worldwide, and a cross-national comparison
of adolescent violent behaviors can provide information
about the development and pattern of physical
violence in young adolescents.
Objectives: To determine and compare frequencies of
adolescent violence-related behaviors in 5 countries and
to examine associations between violence-related behaviors
and potential explanatory characteristics.
Design, Setting, and Participants: Crosssectional,
school-based nationally representative survey
at ages 11.5, 13.5, and 15.5 years in 5 countries (Ireland,
Israel, Portugal, Sweden, and the United States).
Main Outcome Measures: Frequency of physical fighting,
bullying, weapon carrying, and fighting injuries in
relation to other risk behaviors and characteristics in home
and school settings.
Results: Fighting frequency among US youth was similar
to that of all 5 countries (nonfighters: US, 60.2%; mean
frequency of 5 countries, 60.2%), as were the frequencies
of weapon carrying (noncarriers: US, 89.6%; mean
frequency of 5 countries, 89.6%) and fighting injury (noninjured:
US, 84.5%; mean frequency of 5 countries,
84.6%). Bullying frequency varied widely crossnationally
(nonbullies: from 57.0% for Israel to 85.2%
for Sweden). Fighting was most highly associated with
smoking, drinking, feeling irritable or bad tempered, and
having been bullied.
Conclusions: Adolescents in 5 countries behaved similarly
in their expression of violence-related behaviors. Occasional
fighting and bullying were common, whereas frequent
fighting, frequent bullying, any weapon carrying,
or any fighting injury were infrequent behaviors. These
findings were consistent across countries, with little crossnational
variation except for bullying rates. Traditional
risk-taking behaviors (smoking and drinking) and being
bullied were highly associated with the expression of
violence-related behavior.