Possession of weapon and school violence among adolescents and their association with history of traumatic brain injury, substance use and mental health issues

Dec 14, 2016Injury

Link between carrying weapons and school violence in teens with past brain injuries, substance use, and mental health problems

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Abstract

In a sample of 5,478 adolescents, 6.1% reported carrying a weapon on school property.

10.8% of participants engaged in a physical fight at school within the last year.
6.4% reported intentionally hurting someone on school grounds in the same timeframe.
Carrying a weapon, fighting, and assaulting peers were associated with a history of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
Males and first-year high school students exhibited higher odds of reporting these violent behaviors.
Elevated psychological distress and regular use of alcohol (for weapon possession) and cannabis were linked to these outcomes.

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PURPOSE: Assessment of the association between illegal possession of weapon and assault on school property among adolescents with and without a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) while assessing risk factors for these outcomes.

METHODS: Data were derived from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health's 2013 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey completed by students in grades 7-12 (ages 11-20).

RESULTS: In this sample of 5478 adolescents, 6.1% (95% CI: 5.0, 7.4) reported carrying a weapon (e.g., gun or knife) on school property, 10.8% (95% CI: 9.5, 12.3) were engaged in a physical fight and 6.4% (95% CI: 5.4, 7.6) reported having beat up or hurt someone on purpose at school, during last year. Youth who reported carrying a weapon, who were engaged in a physical fight and those who assaulted peers on school property during last year had statistically significantly higher odds of reporting a history of TBIs, being male, in first years of high-school, scored positive for elevated psychological distress, and were current regular alcohol (weapon possession only) and cannabis users.

CONCLUSION: Previously it was thought that alcohol and drugs were the main contributors to school violence. Here we show that history of TBIs is yet another significant predictor of violence at school among adolescents. The results suggest that school vigilance and combined violence and TBI prevention, treatment and rehabilitation programs in this population are warranted.

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Possession of weapon and school violence among adolescents and their association with history of traumatic brain injury, substance use and mental health issues

Abstract

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