Violence among urban African American youths: An analysis of environmental and behavioral risk factors

This study investigated environmental and behavioral risk factors as predictors of involvement in violent behavior among African American youths. Data from 684 African American youths ages 14 to 17, who participated in interviews by the Youth Services Project in St. Louis, Missouri, were used in the...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Social work research 1998-03, Vol.22 (1), p.3-13
Main Authors: Williams, James Herbert, Stiffman, Arlene Rubin, O'Neal, John Leslie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
adolescence
Adolescents
African American Children
African Americans
Alcohols
Behavior
Behavior Patterns
Black American people
Black people
Blacks
Drinking
Educational Environment
Family Life
gender
Intervention
Juvenile delinquency
Longitudinal Studies
Neighborhoods
Peer Influence
Predictor Variables
Predisposing factors
Risk
Risk factors
School violence
Sex Differences
Sexual violence
Social research
Substance Abuse
substance use
Teenagers
Traumas
Urban violence
Urban Youth
victimization
Violence
Violent crimes
Young people
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This study investigated environmental and behavioral risk factors as predictors of involvement in violent behavior among African American youths. Data from 684 African American youths ages 14 to 17, who participated in interviews by the Youth Services Project in St. Louis, Missouri, were used in these analyses. Forty percent of the variance in African American youths' involvement in violent behavior was predicted by the environmental risk factors of exposure to violence, deteriorated school environment, negative peer environment, and traumatic experiences and by the behavioral risk factors of alcohol use and substance use. Gender differences in risk factors were also explored. The results suggest that preventive interventions should have an ecological approach, including a community and individual focus.
ISSN:1070-5309
1545-6838
DOI:10.1093/swr/22.1.3