Objectives. Studies with national and state samples of African American, Hispanic, and White youth find that psychosocial, interpersonal, and behavioral factors are associated with violence. Asian, Filipino, and Southeast Asian youth remain virtually unstudied. This study examines associations of previously studied factors, such as social influences, exposure to violence, substance use, and truancy, with weapon carrying and fighting within six ethnic groups.
Methods. Ninth and tenth graders from 23 California schools were surveyed in 1997 and 1998. Participants included African American (n=803), Asian (n=335), Filipino (n=291), Hispanic (n=900), Southeast Asian (n=591), and White (n=903) youth. Dependent variables were weapon carrying, and fighting during the past six months. Logistical regression controlling for gender and grade assessed the effects of ten factors.
Results. Prevalence rates were consistently higher for males on both dependent variables. Prevalence varied by ethnic group, with a high of 16% of African American youth having carried a weapon and been in a fight in the last six months. Most important correlates of weapon carrying and fighting were exposure to violence and negative peer norms. Substance use was associated with both dependent variables in all groups. However, specific substance varied with outcome and group. Truancy was significantly associated with fighting for all groups, except Hispanics and Whites.
Conclusions. Based on similar findings for all ethnic groups, there is a need to decrease youth exposure to violence in school and community environments, provide substance use prevention, and provide training to resist negative peer influences.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to list correlates of youth weapon carrying and fighting for six ethnic groups
Keywords: Youth Violence, Adolescents
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.