Effects of Cumulative Risks and Promotive Factors on Violent Behavior Among Urban Adolescents: A Longitudinal Analysis of Resiliency Theory

Background: The presence of risk and promotive factors may increase or decrease the likelihood that adolescents will engage in violent behavior. To date, most research has focused on single risk and promotive factors, without considering how these risks and promotive factors accumulate and influence violent behavior over time. Methods: Using growth curve modeling, we examine the association between cumulative risks and promotive factors and violent behaviors, and test a resilience model for violent behavior across the high school years of adolescence in a sample of predominately African American youth (n = 750). Cumulative risk and promotive factor indices represented individual characteristics, peer influences, and parental/familial influences. Results: Higher cumulative risk was associated with higher levels of violent behavior. Higher levels of promotive factors were associated with lower levels of violent behavior. We also noted an interaction between risk and promotive factors on violent behaviors. Conclusions: Our findings support a risk-protective model of resiliency. Cumulative promotive factors mitigated the relationship between cumulative risks and violent behavior in the presence of higher levels of cumulative risks. Violence prevention programs focused on promotive factors may have a positive and lasting effect on adolescent violent behavior.