Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate associations between weapon carrying (WC) and victimization among California middle- and high-school girls. Methods: Data from the school-administered safety-related module of the California Healthy Kids Survey, Fall, 1998 - Fall, 1999, were analyzed (n=27,256 girls). Any student who reported carrying a gun, knife, or club or bat on >=1 day during the prior 30 is classified as WC. Victimization (last 12 months) includes having had property damaged/stolen (Property) and having been hit/slapped/physically hurt by a boyfriend (Boyfriend); injured in a fight (Fight); threatened/injured with a weapon at school (Threatened); and harassed because of race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or disability (Harassment). Results: Overall, 1,399 (5.1%) girls reported WC; of these, 786 (56.2%) reported WC, including “other” weapons, at school. The knife was the weapon most often carried at school (80.5%). Next, WC status varied with race/ethnicity and age: American Indian/Eskimo/Aleuts (7.7%) and African/Americans (7.4 %) and girls 18+ (6.8%) reported relatively higher rates of WC (p<0.01). Finally, WC status was associated with victimization: Property, Boyfriend, Fight, Threatened, and Harassment victims were 2.2, 3.0, 7.8, 5.4, and 2.2 times, respectively, more likely to report WC than were non-victims (p<0.01). Conclusions: Though cause-and-effect relationships are unknown for these female students, strong associations were observed between reports of having been victimized and reports of weapon carrying. Implications: Prevention efforts are sorely needed to address the disconcerting potential for violent interactions occurring within our schools.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, a member of the audience will be able to do the following: 1. Discuss the prevalence of weapon carrying among California middle and high school girls responding to the school-administered safety-related module of the California Healthy Kids Survey, 1998-1999. 2. Identify, within the surveyed population, specific groups, including racial/ethnic, age, and victimization groups, at elevated risk for carrying weapons. 3. Describe associations between weapon carrying and victimization status among surveyed California middle and high school girls.
Keywords: Violence, Adolescent Health
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.