Risk and Promotive Factors Associated with Violent Behavior Among Urban Youth: Consideration of Sex Differences

Background: Violence is a leading cause of disability and death among youth. Researchers have made progress in identifying risk and promotive factors associated with violent behavior, but most research has focused on individual and family level factors with limited attention on sex differences, despite concerning violence rates for males and females. Methods: We examined risk and promotive factors associated with violence among a school-based sample of urban youth (N=770; 50% female; 82.6% African-American; M=17.82 years; SD = .64) across multiple ecological domains (individual, family, peers, school and community). Using hierarchical regression we first examined individual, peer, family and school factors, added community factors and examined peer-family interactions. We examined similarities and differences in these factors by sex. Results: Sex, violence victimization and friends' aggression were associated with violent behavior in all aggregate sample models. Leadership was associated with increased violent behavior. In stratified analyses, friends' aggressive behavior, victimization, younger age and leadership were associated with increased violent behavior among males. Males with high mother support were less likely to be violent than males with low mother support. Among females, family aggression, friends' aggressive behavior and victimization were associated with increased violent behavior and no promotive factors emerged. Conclusions: Results suggest risk and promotive factors across many levels are associated with violent behavior and sex differences in risk and promotive factors exist. The results also suggest that violence prevention efforts that focus on multi-level influences and tailor programs for males and females may be most effective.