The frequency and correlates of violent behaviors in a statewide sample of high school students

This is a study of the frequency and correlates of selected violent behaviors in public high school students using the 1993 South Carolina Youth Risk Behavior Survey. The percentage who reported carrying a weapon in the last 30 days varied from 9% among white females to 50% among white males. Over 37% of the students reported being in a fight in the last month. About 12% reported someone had forced them to have sexual intercourse, and 6% reported having forced someone else to have sexual intercourse. The most consistent predictor of all outcomes was substance use, though having had sexual intercourse was correlated with most outcomes. Health professionals working to prevent violent and aggressive behavior among adolescents should incorporate identified risk factors into assessment and intervention efforts that target coexisting high-risk behaviors and provide treatment or referral options.