Nu. Cotten et al., AGGRESSION AND FIGHTING BEHAVIOR AMONG AFRICAN-AMERICAN ADOLESCENTS -INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY FACTORS, American journal of public health, 84(4), 1994, pp. 618-622
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.