Fighting among America's youth: a risk and protective factors approach

Using three nationally representative, stratified samples of youth, this paper examines health-comprising behavior (fighting) using a risk and protective factors model. In addition, the interplay between risk and protective factors is explored in an attempt to specify their precise role in acting as either mediators or buffers in the risk-taking process. Regression results indicate some similarities among the three samples and the general model's utility in predicting self-reported fighting among youth. Specifically, general environmental risk variables in the form of exposure to violence (threats and victimization) were consistent predictors of fighting among all age groups (grades 3 through 12). Upon closer inspection, analysis revealed that protective factors were not effectively mediating the relationship between risks and risk-taking behavior. Results from the multiplicative regression analysis indicate that protective factors in some circumstances act as buffers; when protective factors are absent or at their weakest, the negative impact of risk on health-compromising behavior was clearly present. Overall, the findings underscore the importance of taking a multidimensional approach to examining risk-taking behavior among youth where individual-level, family, school, and community factors are all considered in the design of prevention strategies.