Violence data between youths are worrying in the Brazilian context. This study examined the violent confrontation behavior in a sample of 389 high school students of Porto Alegre-RS. The aim was to identify which variables, in terms of socio-demographic data, risky behaviors in traffic, psychological well-being and coping strategies constitutes in risk factors to violent confrontation. It was verified a bigger chance of involvement in violent confrontations between the subjects of the male sex that drive automotive vehicles without licence. Regarding to coping strategies the chances of involvement are bigger between those youths that present a bigger utilization of coping strategies of social action (in the sense of the organization of groups and seeks by pair) and seek for relaxing fun, as a minor utilization of illusions creating and self-guilty coping strategies as alternatives for deal with stressing situations. Considering this risky profile, it is necessary a reflection about the social context of violence and the need of preventive public politics to the violence between youths.
adolescence; violent confrontation; risky behavior
