Early life and social factors associated gang involvement among street-involved youth: A gender-based analysis

Elucidating the early life and social determinants that increase the risk for gang affiliation among high-risk youth could have important implications for public health and safety efforts seeking to reduce gang violence and other health problems. We examined the relationship between self-reported gang involvement, early childhood traumatic experiences and social factors in a study of drug-using street-involved youth in Vancouver, Canada. Among 438 eligible participants, the mean age was 22, 77 (22.4%) were of Aboriginal ancestry and 125 (36.7%) were female. A total of 94 (21.5%) reported a lifetime history of gang involvement and 206 (48.1%) reported having friends involved in a gang. In gender-stratified log-binomial models, males involved in gangs were more likely to be of Aboriginal ancestry (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09–2.44), have grown up in an orphanage or foster home (PR = 2.03, 95%CI: 1.32–3.12), been diagnosed with a mental illness (PR = 2.58, 95%CI: 1.18–5.66), dealt drugs (PR = 2.52, 95%CI: 1.66–3.85) and been incarcerated (PR = 1.40, 95%CI: 1.29–2.80). Women involved in gangs were more likely to have reported a history of childhood sexual abuse (PR = 3.08, 95%CI: 1.15–8.27). These results suggest that a variety of adverse experiences in early life are associated with a subsequent increased risk of gang affiliation among youth who are street-involved. Primary prevention strategies aiming to avert gang initiation among high-risk youth should seek to address mental health issues, childhood abuse, and other traumatic experiences that are commonly experienced by this population.