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Aims: To assess the prevalence of violent behaviour and to identify risk factors associated with violent behaviour among male college students in Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study among 1294 male college students in Awassa, Ethiopia was conducted in June 2006. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information concerning violent acts, anger expression, and sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics. Multivariable logistic regression procedures were used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: More than half of the students (54.3%) reported committing at least one act of physical violence during the current academic year. Academic year of studies, use of khat, a natural stimulant with amphetamine-like effects, anger proneness and stressful life events were statistically significant covariates associated with committing acts of violence. Seniors, as compared with freshmen, were less likely to admit violent behaviour (OR=0.46; 95% CI 0.30-0.71). Those who reported using khat were more likely to report committing violent acts (OR=1.46, 95% CI 1.02-2.08) than were non-users. Students with moderate levels of anger expression (scores of 11-14) were 3.40 times more likely to report committing acts of violence (OR=3.40; 95% CI 2.42-4.79) than were those with low levels of anger expression (scores <11). For students with high levels of anger expression (⩾15 scores), the corresponding OR was 7.62 (95% CI 5.15-11.29). Participants who had experienced ⩾4 negative life events during the current academic year were more likely (OR=2.41; 95% CI 1.58-3.69) to report violent behaviour than were those with fewer stressful life events. Conclusions: Screening for violent behaviour and violence prevention programmes, particularly those in educational settings, should include strategies that address students' stressful life events, anger management, and substance use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]