Applying a General Strain Theory Framework to Understand School Weapon Carrying Among LGBQ and Heterosexual Youth

Abstract

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning (LGBQ) youth are at a higher risk for school victimization, social isolation, and school weapon carrying compared with their heterosexual peers, yet few studies have been conducted to investigate their experiences. By using a general strain theory (GST) framework, data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) statewide probability sample of Delaware heterosexual (n = 7,688) and LGBQ (n = 484) youth in grades 9–12 show that there are both similarities and differences in the factors associated with school weapon carrying among LGBQ and heterosexual youth. LGBQ and heterosexual youth's weapon carrying is related to school victimization, but social support does not moderate the relationship between school victimization and school weapon carrying as suggested by GST. Furthermore, being male is significantly related to heterosexual youth's weapon carrying, but sex is not related to weapon carrying among LGBQ youth. Overall, the results highlight a need to reconceptualize GST to help center the experiences of LGBQ youth, a historically marginalized group, within mainstream criminological literature. Theoretical and policy implications are discussed.

Weapon-carrying and the Reduction of Violent Harm

“…Despite the disproportionate harm that weapons can cause in violence, explanations of weapon-carrying or weapon use have, in general, been limited to viewing it either as an extension of violence in general -thus, negating the need for a distinct theory of weapon-carrying -or suggesting, simplistically, that it is a direct response to fear of victimisation (Button and Worthen 2017;Lemos 2004). Perhaps more promisingly, Djikstra et al (2010) have demonstrated that weapon-carrying is the result of interaction between individual trait aggression and aggressive peer influence, while Brennan (2017) has suggested that weaponcarrying is an attempt to reduce the uncertainty of violent encounters in risky environments regardless of whether the carrier's intention is offensive, defensive, or both.…”

Integrating Theories of Gender and Sexuality With Deviance: The Case of Prescription Drug Misuse during Sex

“…Rather, he stressed that explanations lie in macro-level theories, and scholars must integrate these theories, including feminist theories, into general strain to explain group differences. Building on this, researchers have engaged with feminist criminology to establish general strain theory’s explanatory power for women (Eitle 2002) and sexual minorities (Button and Worthen 2017), suggesting potential broad applicability beyond the traditional subject of criminology: heterosexual men. This research demonstrates how gender- and sexuality-based discrimination and victimization results in negative outcomes, including substance use and crime (Button and Worthen 2014; Eitle 2002).…”

Age at first alcohol use and weapon carrying among adolescents: Findings from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey

“…Weapon carrying among adolescents in the United States (US) is a significant public health concern ( Baiden, Findley, & Onyeaka, 2021 ; Button & Worthen, 2017 ; Cunningham et al, 2018 ; Khubchandani and Price, 2018 ; Vaughn et al, 2016 ) and has been on the increase in recent years ( Levine & McKnight, 2017 ). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), 15.7% of students had carried a weapon (gun, knife, or club) at least once during the 30 days before the survey date ( Kann et al, 2018 ).…”

“…Studies have also found a significant association between race/ethnicity and weapon carrying among adolescents ( Carter et al, 2020 ; Muula et al, 2008 ; Williams et al, 2007 ). Adolescents who self-identified as sexual minorities are also more likely to carry a weapon when compared to their heterosexual counterparts ( Button & Worthen, 2017 ).…”