NCJ Number
244504
Journal
American Journal of Preventive Medicine Volume: 43 Issue: 2, Supplement 1 Dated: August 2012 Pages: S57-S66
Date Published
August 2012
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study explored which risk and direct protective factors were predictors of youth violence.
Abstract
Using results from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, this study examined which risk and direct protective factors were predictors of youth violence. The study found that risk for violence by age 14 was increased by early attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, low school connectedness, low grade-point average, and high peer delinquency, while risk for violence at age 14 was decreased by low ADHD symptoms, low emotional distress, high educational aspirations, and high grade-point averages. For study participants in the 18-20 year age group, a lower risk of violence was found among those who reported low peer delinquency at age 13. This study analyzed data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health at three different time points to determine whether risk factors, direct protective factors, or a combination of both types of factors were predictors of violence during adolescence (age 14) and young adulthood (ages 18-20). The factors analyzed included race/ethnicity, public assistance, ADHD symptoms, emotional distress, religious attendance, activities with parents, grade-point average, peer delinquency, prosocial behavior, family connectedness, educational aspirations, neighborhood attachment, friend caring, and friend contacts. Analysis of the data indicates that low emotional distress and low ADHD symptoms at age 14 and low peer delinquency at ages 18-20 were direct protective factors for risk of violence. These findings suggest the need for assessing both risk and protective factors when examining violent behavior in adolescents and young adults. Study limitations are discussed. Tables and references