Family and abuse characteristics of gang-involved, pressured-to-join, and non–gang-involved girls.

Abstract

It has been unclear which human-attribute concepts are most universal across languages. To identify common-denominator concepts, we used dictionaries for 12 mutually isolated languages-Maasai, Supyire Senoufo, Khoekhoe, Afar, Mara Chin, Hmong, Wik-Mungkan, Fnga, Fijian, Inuktitut, Hopi, and Kuna-representing diverse cultural characteristics and language families, from multiple continents. A composite list of every person-descriptive term in each lexicon was closely examined to determine the content (in terms of Fnglish translation) most ubiquitous across languages. Study 1 identified 28 single-word concepts used to describe persons in all 12 languages, as well as 41 additional terms found in 11 of 12. Results indicated that attribute concepts related to morality and competence appear to be as cross-culturally ubiquitous as basic-emotion concepts. Formulations of universal-attribute concepts from Osgood and Wierzbicka were well-supported. Study 2 compared lexically based personality models on the relative ubiquity of key associated terms, finding that 1 -and 2-dimensional models draw on markedly more ubiquitous terms than do 5-or 6-factor models. We suggest that ubiquitous atu-ibutes reflect common cultural as well as common biological processes.

Polytraumatization, Mental Health, and Delinquency Among Adolescent Gang Members

“…Social workers or others who encounter adolescent gang members may consider assessing for exposure to multiple traumas (Gustafsson et al., ). Trauma‐informed care emphasizing strengths, resources, and provision of appropriate services that address the needs of trauma survivors is essential (De La Rue & Espelage, ). Additionally, work is needed to address the drivers of marginalization that contribute to experiences of trauma.…”

“…There are also links between traumatization and the perpetration of violence (Hartinger‐Saunders et al., ; Maschi, ; Ross & Arsenault, ; Shaffer & Ruback, ), drug use (Lin, Cochran, & Mieczkowski, ; Loeber et al., ), and drug distribution among adolescents. Previous studies have demonstrated that gang members are more likely to engage in delinquent behaviors (De La Rue & Espelage, ; Harper et al., ) and drug distribution (Bjerregaard, ) than non–gang members. Drug distribution has rarely been examined as an outcome variable; in past research, it was either not included (Harper et al., ; Hartinger‐Saunders et al., ; Maschi, ; Shaffer & Ruback, ) or was included as part of delinquency (Begle et al., ).…”

“…Young adult gang members experience disproportionately high levels of trauma during their lives (Barnes, Boutwell, & Fox, ; Loeber, Kalb, & Huizinga, ), including childhood trauma (De La Rue & Espelage, ; Petering, ), sexual assault, dating violence, and serious injury from physical fighting (Gover, Jennings, & Tewksbury, ). Gang members are at particularly high risk for polytraumatization (Barnes et al., ; Loeber et al., ), a term used to capture the multiple types of trauma individuals may experience, including direct and vicarious victimization.…”

“…The increased risk of mental health symptoms (Harris et al., ; Petering, ), violent and nonviolent delinquency (De La Rue & Espelage, ; Harper et al., ), and drug distribution (Bjerregaard, ) among gang members compared to non–gang members may be explained by polytraumatization. The present study examined these relations.…”

Gang membership, Mental Illness, and Negative Emotionality: A Systematic Review of the Literature

“…Although research suggests that gang membership generally attracts discontented adolescent males (see Pyrooz & Sweeton, 2015;Watkins & Melde, 2016), it also shows increasing levels of female gang involvement (Snethen, 2010;Thornberry, Krohn, Lizotte, GANG MEMBERSHIP EFFECTS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW Smith, & Tobin, 2003), and that compared to non-gang involved females, gang-affiliated females were at greater risk of sexual victimization (Chettleburgh, 2007;De La Rue & Espelage, 2014). This demonstrates how both males and females suffer violence due to gang connections.…”