Violent Victimization and Violence Perpetration Among American Indian Adolescents

Abstract

In the current study, we propose an integrative approach, which will incorporate elements from the social learning and self-control theories of delinquency and crime to examine violence in an understudied, marginalized, and often discriminated subpopulation group—American Indian youth. The analysis is based on survey data collected between 2009 and 2013 from a sample of American Indian adolescents ( N = 3,380) enrolled in 27 school districts located in five regions of the United States (Northern Plains, Southwest, Upper Great Lakes, Southeast/Texas, and the Northeast). The main objective of the analysis is to identify the factors more likely to predict violent offending among American Indian adolescents, a vulnerable group that has an elevated risk of violent victimization. Results of the Tobit regression analysis indicate that in both gender groups a low level of self-control, association with delinquent friends, poor school performance, and underage alcohol consumption significantly predict violence perpetration. Nonetheless, experience with direct violent victimization has the largest effect on male and female adolescents’ violent behavior. Although living with both biological parents and childhood exposure to domestic violence do not influence significantly the adolescents’ aggressive behavior, parental monitoring does have a significant violence-deterrent effect in both gender groups. Findings suggest that more opportunities should be created for indigenous communities to control their education systems and ensure American Indian students achieve academic success, which is one of the violence protective factors identified in this study. Moreover, measures meant to prevent youth violence in American Indian communities should also focus on parents/caregivers who, directly and indirectly, have the capacity to reduce the adolescents’ risk of becoming victims and/or perpetrators of violence.

Homicides of American Indians/Alaska Natives — National Violent Death Reporting System, United States, 2003–2018

“…From 2000 to 2010, the AI/AN population increased almost twice as fast as the total U.S. population (31), with the percentage of AI/AN persons aged <18 years higher than the percentage of those aged <18 years for the total U.S. population (29.0% versus 21.9%) (32). AI/AN youths, particularly young adult males, experience disproportionate rates of violent injury and homicide (7,22,25). Socioeconomic factors (e.g., lack of economic opportunity, income inequality, and poverty) contribute to violence and have been associated with higher rates of homicide (33).…”

“…According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the rate of violent crime against AI/ANs (101 violent crimes per 1,000 AI/ANs) was more than twice the rate of the general U.S. resident population (41 per 1,000 persons) during 1992-2002 (5). AI/ANs also experience higher rates of adverse childhood experiences, including child abuse and neglect and family and community violence, than other racial/ethnic groups (6)(7)(8), which increase their risk for other forms of violence, such as homicide. The risk factors for violence among AI/ANs are compounded by multiple and multilayered traumas, including historical (e.g., war and loss of land, language, access to traditional ways, and cultural identity), intergenerational (e.g., child and elder abuse and neglect), and ongoing (e.g., racism and structural inequities) traumas (9)(10)(11)(12).…”

Social contagion, violence, and suicide among adolescents

“…In a separate study, a sample of 3380 American Indian adolescents was analyzed between the years 2009 and 2013 to explore a social learning perspective on violent offending. They found that having friends who have committed crimes and experience with direct violent victimization had significant effects on self-reported violent offending [ 18 ▪ ].…”

“…More precisely, Social Learning Theory highlights the importance of observing, modeling and imitating other people's behaviors, emotional reactions or attitudes [ 11 ▪▪ , 12 ▪▪ , 13 ▪ ]. Therefore, adolescents might reproduce the aggressive tactics they have learned during social interactions [ 18 ▪ ]. According to Social Influence Hypothesis, youth can be directly or indirectly encouraged by peers to carry guns [ 14 ▪ ].…”

“…Violence and mental health represent two areas where this issue has been particularly researched in this age group. Three dimensions have been identified for which social contagion appears to be a relevant explanatory framework in adolescent violence: the role of violent video games in aggressive behavior [ 11 ▪▪ , 12 ▪▪ , 13 ▪ ], the contagion of gun violence [ 14 ▪ , 15 ], and peer effects on bullying, cyber-bullying and violent offending [ 16 ▪▪ , 17 ▪▪ , 18 ▪ ]. Regarding adolescent mental health, although there are some studies that reference social contagion in relation to eating disorders [ 19 ▪ ] and alcohol interventions [ 20 ▪ ], most recent studies have focused on suicide [ 21 ▪▪ , 22 ▪ , 33 ▪▪ ].…”