International Perspectives on Adolescent Violence
Co-investigatorsMary D. Overpeck, DrPH
Peter C. Scheidt, MD, MPH
Acknowlegement :Patricia Moyer, NICHD
Lois Fingerhut, NCHS/CDC
Data Sources• Mortality
– WHO Statistics
– International Collaborative Effort on Injury Statistics
Nonfatal Data Source
WHO study of Health Behavior in School Children1997/98 Survey
Injury Mortality Rates by Intent Age 15-19
• Source is latest data available from WHO Statistics Website
• Averaging about 10 years of data for each country
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
IsraelEngland &
SwedenDenmark
IrelandSlovak Republic
ScotlandGreeceFrance
HungaryGermany
NorwayNorthern IrelandCzech Republic
BelgiumPoland
CanadaFinlandAustria
PortugalRussia
USA Lithuania
EstoniaLatvia
Rate per 100,000
Unintentional Suicide Homicide
Undetermined
Other violence/war
USA
Injury Mortality rates for ages 15-19 years by intent
Deaths by Mechanism
Mechanism describes how someone died
e.g. firearms, cutting/piercing, suffocation
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
United States
Scotland
Norway
Israel
France
England & Wales
Canada
Deaths per 100,000 population
Firearm Cut/pierce Other
Mechanism of Homicides - Age 15 - 24
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
United States
Scotland
Norway
Israel
France
England & Wales
Canada
Deaths per 100,000 population
Firearm Poisoning Suffocation Other
Mechanism of Suicides - Age 15 - 24
Non-fatal BehaviorsWHO Study of Health Behavior
in School-aged Children
Nationally representative surveys of 11, 13 & 15 year old youth in 29 countries
Self report, school based surveys
·Conducted academic year 1997-98
·120,000 respondents
·95% CI’s for percents shown are about 2.5% for each country
METHODS
VARIABLESFighting, bullying, weapon
carrying
Other health-related and risk behaviors
School, family and peer factors
BULLYING DEFINITION
We say a student is BEING BULLIED when another student, or a group of students say or do nasty and unpleasant things to him or her.
It is also BULLYING when a student is teased repeatedly in a way he or she doesn’t like.
But it is NOT BULLYING when two students of about the same strength quarrel or fight.
How often have you been bullied in school this term?
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Slovak republicEnglandSweden
ScotlandWales
Rep. of IrelandNorthern Ireland
PolandNorwayGreece
HungaryUSA
FinlandBelgium -
FranceCanadaRussia
PortugalIsrael
AustriaEstonia
DenmarkCzech republic
LatviaSwitzerland
GreenlandGermanyLithuania
Percent distribution
Sometimes >= Once a week
USA
How often have you taken part in bullying other students?
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
EnglandWales
ScotlandPoland
SwedenNorthern
Slovak republicGreece
Rep. of IrelandPortugalHungary
IsraelNorway
USARussiaFinland
Czech republicEstoniaCanada
Belgium -FranceLatvia
GreenlandSwitzerland
DenmarkLithuaniaGermany
Austria
Percent distribution
Sometimes >= Once a week
USA
Do you feel safe at school?
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
USA
Sweden
Republic of Ireland
Portugal
Israel
Estonia
Percent distribution
Did not Fight 1-3 Times 4+ Times
During the past 12 months, how many times were you in a physical fight?
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
USA
Republic of Ireland
Portugal
Israel
Estonia
Percent distribution
Did not Fight Stranger Family MemberBoy/Girlfriend Friend Someone ElseMore Than One of Above
The last time you were in a physical fight, with whom did you fight?
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
USA
Republic of Ireland
Portugal
Israel
Hungary
Estonia
Belgium-Flemish
Percent not Carrying
During the past 30 days, on how many days did you carry a weapon, such as a
gun, knife or club, for self-defense?
COMPARISONS OF FIGHTING AND HOMICIDE
18.660.2USA
0.861.2Sweden
0.6 55.6 Irish Rep
0.9Portugal 68.8
1.0 54.6Israel
11.4Estonia 60.6
15-19 yrs
Homicide Rates
% Not Fighting
Country
SummaryPrimary difference between
fatality rates among U.S. and other countries is the homicide rates
Behavioral data indicate that U.S. adolescents are no more violent than those in most other countries
DiscussionComparability of data for fatalities and nonfatal behavior
Other studies of violence, bullying, fighting and weapon carrying
Effective targeting of interventions for violence
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