Fire-setting by children poses public health and safety risks. This population-based case-control study examined the hypothesis that fire-setting might be determined in part by a combination of shy temperament and aggressive behavior found by others to predict social maladaptation in the teen years, perhaps complicated by peer rejection. Data were from a nationally representative sample drawn and assessed for the 1995 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA). Cases were 284 children aged 12-17 who acknowledged recent fire-setting. Controls were 4207 children matched to cases on age and census tract of household residence. Conditional logistic regression was used to test the study hypothesis, and showed moderate to strong associations between firesetting and being both shy and aggressive (OR=6.1, 95% CI=1.9, 19.4) and feeling highly rejected by peers (OR=14.5, 95% CI=3.5, 59.6). Males were an estimated 3.8 times more likely than females to be firesetters (95%CI=1.8, 8.2). This cross-sectional evidence highlights a possible causal influence of the combination of being shy and aggressive with respect to firesetting acts, with a separate influence by peer rejection. Though shy temperament is a behavioral trait observed early in childhood, prospective studies and randomized prevention trials will be needed to clarify temporal sequencing and to probe the actual causal significance of the observed associations.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant will be able to: 1) have a comprehensive picture of the epidemiology of fire-setting in youth (e.g., definition, distribution, assessment, etc.), 2) understand how the traits of shyness, aggressiveness, and peer rejection are combined in influencing youth’s firesetting acts, and 3) consider the actual causal significance of these traits on adolescents’ social maladaptation
Keywords: Epidemiology, Risk Factors
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.