Health compromising behaviors among Chinese adolescents: Role of physical abuse, school experience, and social support

Abstract

This study examined the influence of immediate social environment on health compromising behaviors (HCB) among 6564 high school students in China. Results showed that physical abuse by parents was a major risk factor that accounted for high rates of HCB. Perceived positive school experience and social support were protective factors associated with low rates of HCB. These two protective factors also buffered the adverse influence of abuse on the practice of individual HCB. In particular, parental abuse was associated with sexual experimentation, non-fatal self-harm, and suicide behaviors only at low levels of protective factors.