Citation

Kukaswadia A, Craig WM, Janssen I, Pickett W. Int. J. Public Health 2012; 57(3): 505-512.

Affiliation

Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada, atif.ak@gmail.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00038-011-0329-6

PMID

22234343

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Although evidence links increased adiposity status with bullying involvement, it is unknown whether this leads to behaviors such as weapon carrying. The purpose of this study was to: (1) analyze relationships between adiposity status and risks for weapon carrying among Canadian school children, and (2) whether this relationship was mediated by reports of bullying. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the health experiences of 7,877 Canadian children. Relationships between adiposity status and weapon carrying were evaluated. Evidence of mediation by bullying involvement was assessed. RESULTS: Overweight (OR: 1.45, 95% CI 1.04-2.02) and obese (OR: 2.19, 95% CI 1.43-3.35) males reported higher odds of weapon carrying relative to normal weight males. There was partial mediation of this relationship by physical and relational bullying, both as a perpetrator or a victim. No evidence of a relationship was identified for female students. CONCLUSIONS: Overweight and obese male students appear to be more likely to carry weapons for defensive and offensive purposes, a behavior mediated partially by bullying involvement. However, other factors may play a role as mediators in these etiological relationships.

Language: en