Factors Associated with Weapon Carrying Among High School Students
Author Information
Author(s): Muula Adamson S, Rudatsikira Emmanuel, Siziya Seter
Primary Institution: University of Malawi, College of Medicine
Hypothesis
What factors are associated with high school students carrying weapons on school property?
Conclusion
The study identifies several factors associated with weapon carrying among adolescents, which can inform interventions for school safety.
Supporting Evidence
- 10.2% of males and 2.6% of females reported carrying a weapon on school property.
- Males were more likely to report carrying weapons than females.
- Substance use, depression, and previous victimization were associated with weapon carrying.
- Older adolescents may be more likely to carry weapons.
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders were more likely to report carrying weapons compared to whites.
Takeaway
Some high school students carry weapons to school, and boys are more likely to do so than girls. Factors like feeling depressed or having been bullied can increase this risk.
Methodology
The study used secondary analysis of the 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System Survey data and logistic regression analysis.
Potential Biases
Self-reporting may lead to underreporting or misreporting of weapon carrying behaviors.
Limitations
The study relies on self-reported data, which may be biased, and the response rate was 67%, potentially affecting representativeness.
Participant Demographics
{"gender":{"male":50.5,"female":49.5},"age":{"median":16,"age_distribution":{"<15":10.7,"15":26.4,"16":25.9,"17":23.3,"18+":13.6}},"ethnicity":{"white":67.8,"black":16.0,"hispanic":10.5,"asian":3.7,"native_american":1.1,"pacific_islander":0.9}}
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
{"male":[4.23,7.62],"female":null}
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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