A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Trends in Indicators of Violence Among Adolescents in Europe and North America 1994–2022




AuthorsMolcho, Michal; Walsh, Sophie D.; King, Nathan; Pickett, William; Donnelly, Peter D.; Cosma, Alina; Elgar, Frank J.; Ng, Kwok; Augustine, Lilly; Malinowska-Cieślik, Marta; Bjereld, Ylva; Craig, Wendy

PublisherFrontiers Media SA

Publishing placeLAUSANNE

Publication year2025

JournalInternational Journal of Public Health

Journal name in sourceInternational Journal of Public Health

Journal acronymINT J PUBLIC HEALTH

Article number 1607654

Volume70

Number of pages11

ISSN1661-8556

eISSN1661-8564

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.3389/ijph.2025.1607654

Web address https://doi.org/10.3389/ijph.2025.1607654

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/491584479


Abstract

Objectives: To describe age and gender specific time trends in adolescent violence across 19 countries over 28 years.

Methods: The paper presents analysis of eight cycles of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Study from 1994-2022, involving 789,531 children aged 11, 13, and 15. Indicators of violence included physical fighting, school bullying and cyberbullying (from 2018). Log-binomial regression models were used to test for linear temporal trends, with Generalized Estimating Equations used to account for clustering by country.

Results: School bullying perpetration and victimization declined over time in each age/gender group in most countries. Similar declines were reported for frequent physical fighting among boys (all ages) and girls (age 15 only). The prevalence of violent behaviour was almost universally higher in boys in the early cycles than in girls, but this gender difference attenuated over time. For cyberbullying, significant increases were observed since 2018 in all groups except age 15 girls in most countries.

Conclusion: This analysis of a large cross-national dataset suggests a decline in traditional forms of adolescent violence. However, the increases in cyberbullying warrant further monitoring.


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Funding information in the publication
The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. CA was supported by the project “Research of Excellence on Digital Technologies and Wellbeing CZ.02.01.01/00/22_008/0004583” which is co-financed by the European Union.


Last updated on 2025-25-04 at 08:15