BACKGROUND: Involvement in interpersonal violence or suicidal behaviors can have a significant impact on an adolescent's physical health. Similarly, previous research has suggested that lived experiences, more than the presence or absence of physical ailments, can significantly influence self-assessed health status among adolescents. The purpose of this study was to examine the cross-sectional associations between involvement in violence and poor or fair self-reported health among US high school students. METHODS: Data were obtained from the 2005 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (n = 13,953). Logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the associations between violence-related measures and self-reported health while controlling for demographic characteristics and potential confounders. Analyses are presented for students overall and stratified by sex and race/ethnicity. RESULTS: Overall, 7.2% of students reported fair or poor self-rated health. Having been in a physical fight, having been injured in a physical fight, having attempted suicide, and having not gone to school because of safety concerns were significantly associated with fair or poor self-rated health after controlling for demographic characteristics and other potential confounders. Differences associated with race/ethnicity and sex are identified. CONCLUSIONS: Four of the 5 violence-related measures included in these analyses were significantly associated with fair or poor self-rated health. Future studies should consider the impact of involvement in violent behaviors and perceptions of both physical and mental well-being.
BACKGROUND: Involvement in interpersonal violence or suicidal behaviors can have a significant impact on an adolescent's physical health. Similarly, previous research has suggested that lived experiences, more than the presence or absence of physical ailments, can significantly influence self-assessed health status among adolescents. The purpose of this study was to examine the cross-sectional associations between involvement in violence and poor or fair self-reported health among US high school students. METHODS: Data were obtained from the 2005 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (n = 13,953). Logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the associations between violence-related measures and self-reported health while controlling for demographic characteristics and potential confounders. Analyses are presented for students overall and stratified by sex and race/ethnicity. RESULTS: Overall, 7.2% of students reported fair or poor self-rated health. Having been in a physical fight, having been injured in a physical fight, having attempted suicide, and having not gone to school because of safety concerns were significantly associated with fair or poor self-rated health after controlling for demographic characteristics and other potential confounders. Differences associated with race/ethnicity and sex are identified. CONCLUSIONS: Four of the 5 violence-related measures included in these analyses were significantly associated with fair or poor self-rated health. Future studies should consider the impact of involvement in violent behaviors and perceptions of both physical and mental well-being.
Authors: Renee M Johnson; Dustin T Duncan; Emily F Rothman; Tamika D Gilreath; David Hemenway; Beth E Molnar; Deborah Azrael Journal: J Interpers Violence Date: 2014-10-06
Authors: Anna Rita Spein; Cecilia Petrine Pedersen; Anne Cathrine Silviken; Marita Melhus; Siv Eli Kvernmo; Peter Bjerregaard Journal: Int J Circumpolar Health Date: 2013-02-06 Impact factor: 1.228