Violence and Externalizing Behavior Among Youth in the United States

Abstract

Despite research demonstrating that approximately 5% of study populations are composed of severely antisocial persons who account for a disproportionate share of problem behaviors, there have been no nationally representative studies assessing this phenomenon among adolescents. Using a large nationally representative sample (N ¼ 18,614), we identified a severe group (4.7% of respondents) characterized by involvement in varied and intensive externalizing behaviors, greater internalizing, lower academic achievement, and less parental involvement. The current study is the first nationally representative study of criminal careers/externalizing behaviors among adolescents in the United States, which is convergent with prior research and theory.

Handgun carrying among White youth increasing in the United States: New evidence from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2002–2013

“…These findings corroborate other correlates found in previous studies (Muula, Rudatsikira, & Siziya, 2008;Vaughn, DeLisi, Salas-Wright, & Maynard, 2014;Vaughn, Perron, Abdon, Olate, & Wu, 2012;Wilkinson & Fagan, 2001;Wintemute, 2015). However, within this externalizing behavior spectrum we found some evidence of differential correlates by race/ethnicity.…”

Prevalence of risky behaviors and relationship of risky behaviors with substance use among university students

“…The fact that our study found the rate of university students carrying knives, penknives, guns and similar sharp and piercing weapons (13.7%) to be higher than in other studies in the university population of Turkey (7.9%-11.1%), shows that such behavior is on the rise among students (54,55). Our finding that the rate of injuries sustained as a result of carrying a piercing or sharp weapon and involvement in a fight is higher among men in comparison to women (40,54,56,57) may be explained by social gender roles imposed on men, expecting them to be brave, strong, and to become warriors.…”

“…Our study demonstrates that there is a higher risk of substance use among those who engage in physical fights and carry piercing or sharp weapons. In studies completed in the United States, results were found to demonstrate a strong relationship between carrying a gun on campus and substance use, as well as substance sales and substance-related crimes (40,57). An early start of violence and crime may indicate a risk of substance use in later years.…”

Correlates of At-risk Gambling Behaviors of Homeless Youth

“…Given the exploratory nature of the present study, further studies are needed to determine the links between gambling and criminality in homeless youth. In fact, it would be interesting to compare the profile of this at-risk group to that of the adolescents presenting the most severe externalizing behaviors [66].…”