Aussie boys more violent than American boys: Study

Australian boys are more aggressive and violent than their American counterparts, according to a new study.

Murdoch Children's Research Institute in collaboration with the University of Washington quizzed 4,000 students, between the age group of 12 to 16, on violent behaviour.

The boys were from Victoria and Washington.

The study found that 12.6% of Victorian boys confessed to violent behaviour, compared to only 10% of Washington boys. The researchers again conducted the survey a year later.

And, it was noted that the numbers had only increased to 17.5% in Victorian and 12.6% in Washington.

"This study is important in determining whether we need to specifically address violent behaviour in Australian boys," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted researcher, Dr Sheryl Hemphill, as saying.

Factors linked to violence like low-income households, sole-parent status, family conflict and low school grades, were also taken into account.

The study further observed that students who are suspended from school or arrested were 1.5 times more likely to engage in violence 12 months later.

The study has been published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology.