Prevalence of Youth Violence in the U.S., 1999–2009: Ethnic Comparisons and Disaggregating Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Abstract

This study examined ethnic and gender differences in youth violence in the U.S. across time, especially when disaggregating Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and examining adolescents with mixed ancestry. National data from 1999 to 2009 of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System were analyzed. The analyses were performed on individual items and three factors (i.e., carry weapon, felt unsafe, fights). Overall, 43.9 % responded to at least one indicator of violence. In general, males reported higher rates than females. American Indians/Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders tended to have the highest rates, while Asians and Whites tended to have the lowest rates. However, significant interaction effects between ethnicity and sex indicated a more complex relationship. The findings highlight the (1) parsimony in utilizing the three factors; (2) importance of disaggregating the heterogeneous "Asian/Pacific Islander" population; and (3) need to conduct more research on youth of mixed ancestry. These findings better inform program design and implementation, as well as policy making in youth violence prevention.

Policy Recommendations to Prevent Youth Violence and Substance Abuse and Foster Positive Youth Development among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Adolescents

“…According to the 2009 Youth Risk Behavioral Survey (YRBS) results, NHOPI youths are at higher risk of violence victimization and perpetration (see Table 1) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009). These trends have been consistent for the past decade (Sugimoto-Matsuda, Hishinuma, and Chang, 2011;Wong et al, 2011).…”

Understanding the Role of School Connectedness and Its Association With Violent Attitudes and Behaviors Among an Ethnically Diverse Sample of Youth

“…Studies that disaggregate the Asian American and Pacific Islander population have found racial/ethnic disparities similar to our study. A national study of the YRBS from 1999 to 2009 found that Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander youth are more likely to carry weapons, feel unsafe, and engage in fighting than youth of other ethnicities (Sugimoto-Matsuda, Hishinuma, & Chang, 2013). In Hawai‘i-based research, Mayeda, Chesney-Lind, and Koo (2001) found that Native Hawaiian and Samoan youth self-reported higher rates of overall risky behavior (e.g., violence, delinquency, property offense, and substance use) compared with youth of other ethnicities.…”

Essential Elements for Community Engagement in Evidence‐Based Youth Violence Prevention

“…Recent findings have indicated that, when disaggregated, there are substantial ethnic differences in youth violence rates among AAPI populations (Mayeda et al 2006). AAPI youth suffer disproportionately from youth violence when compared to national averages, with Pacific Islanders having among the highest youth violence rates among six nonmixed races in the U.S. based on all youth violence items of the 1999-2007 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]; Sugimoto-Matsuda et al 2010). Theories for the high rates of youth violence for AAPIs include marginalization through colonialism, effects of low socioeconomic status, discrimination, mental illness stigma, and cultural conflict between Western and more collectivistic values (Mayeda et al 2006;Le 2002;Mark and Nishigaya 2009;Mark et al 2005).…”