Associations between self-reported concussion with later violence injury among Australian early adolescents

• Published in: Journal of public health (Oxford, England) England), 2017-03, Vol.39 (1), p.52-57
• Main Authors: Buckley, Lisa, Chapman, Rebekah L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Australia - epidemiology; Brain Concussion - epidemiology; Female; Humans; Life course & epidemiology; Logistic Models; Male; Self Report; Violence
• ISSN: 1741-3842; 1741-3850
• DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdw009

There is growing research finding associations between adolescents' concussion and negative outcomes, including violence, rarely however are the experiences of community-based early adolescents considered. This study examined associations between reports of concussion (Time-1) and reports of violence 1-year later (Time-2). Australian adolescents from 13 high-schools completed two identical surveys administered 12-months apart (n = 734 retained, initial mean age = 13.45). At the first survey, 91 students (13%) reported they had a concussion, and of these students, 40% reported seeing a doctor/attending hospital during the prior 3 months. Both self-reported experience of violent injury (from getting in a fight) and violent behaviour (getting in a fight) were predicted by reports of concussion in Year 9. This prediction held, when adding sex, Year 9 reports of violence, alcohol use, truancy and engagement in passenger and driving risk-taking to logistic regression models. Year 9 concussion was not predictive of later injury in other contexts, including transportation, falls or sports. The study highlights the need to understand concussion among community-based early adolescents including consider associations with violence.