Abstract
Impact of School Violence upon Health Behaviors among High School Students
Author(s): Azal Mohammed Awad*, Arkan Bahloul NagyObjectives: Upgrading healthy behavior has become a requirement for healthy growth, and it is generally one of the social problems due to its impact on the safety and security of society. This study aimed to assess school violence and its effect of health behavior among high school students.
Methods: A descriptive correlational study conducted in Diyala Governorate during the period from October 1st 2022 to March 10th 2023. The study sample consist of 400 students in high schools is selected according to simple random sample. The validity of the questionnaire was verified by experts and its reliability was verified through a pilot study. The total number of items included in the questionnaire was 48 items to assess school violence and 49 items to assess health behavior. Data were collected through the interview and analyzed by applying descriptive and inferential statistical analysis.
Results: The study results indicate that the most of respondents are female students at mean age 17.1 residents in urban areas within lower middle class. Over than half (58.5%) of the study participants were found to low level of school violence and (44.8%) were average adopt health behavior. The students school violence is predicted health behavior (p = .000).
Conclusions: The results showed that school violence of respondents was within low level and the health behavior was within average level. School violence was found predicted of health behavior. The study adds knowledge regarding health education for all segments of society towards school violence and its influences of health behavior. Further study is needed to explore strategies to adopt health behavior and factors contributing to school violence among different school’s stages.