AGGRESSION AND FIGHTING BEHAVIOR AMONG AFRICAN-AMERICAN ADOLESCENTS -INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY FACTORS

Objectives. This study examined the extent to which individual and fam ily factors are associated with aggression and fighting behavior among African-American middle school adolescents. Methods. Four hundred thi rty-six African-American boys and girls from two middle schools in a p redominantly low-income North Carolina school system were surveyed and their school records examined. Information was collected concerning s tudents' aggression levels, school fighting behavior, school suspensio ns for fighting, attitudes toward violence, perceptions of their famil ies' attitudes toward violence, weapon-carrying behavior, and sociodem ographics. Multivariate analyses were employed to predict the students ' aggression levels, fighting behavior, and school suspensions. Result s. Factors related to the individual adolescents. such as gender, age, weapon-carrying behavior, and attitudes toward violence. were associa ted with students' reports of aggression and fighting behavior. Factor s related to family and school were associated with school suspension for fighting. Conclusions. This study suggests that violence preventio n programs set in our elementary and middle schools may reduce aggress ion and fighting among our youth. School teachers and public health pr actitioners are encouraged to work together in understanding and preve nting adolescent violence.