The developmental ecology of urban males' youth violence.

Abstract

Data from a longitudinal study of 294 African American and Latino adolescent boys and their caregivers living in poor urban communities were used to test a developmental-ecological model of violence. Six annual waves of data were applied to evaluate the relations between microsystem influences of parenting and peer deviance (peer violence and gang membership), macrosystem influences of community structural characteristics and neighborhood social organization, and individual involvement in violence (level and growth). Structural equation modeling analyses showed that community structural characteristics significantly predicted neighborhood social processes. Parenting practices partially mediated the relation between neighborhood social processes and gang membership. Parenting practices was fully mediated in its relation to peer violence by gang membership. Gang membership was partially mediated by peer violence level in its relation to individual violence level. Although the overall set of relations does not satisfy mediation requirements fully in all instances, the model was validated for the most part, supporting a focus on a multilevel ecological model of influences on risk development.

Adaptive Coping Reduces the Impact of Community Violence Exposure on Violent Behavior among African American and Latino Male Adolescents

“…Reported frequencies for each event were recoded using the scale: 0 -none, 1 -once, 2 -more than once. Consistent with previous studies and a widely accepted method within the field (e.g., Elliott, Dunford, & Huizinga, 1987;Loeber, Stouthamer-Loeber, & White, 1999;Tolan, Gorman-Smith, & Henry, 2003), we weighted the recoded frequencies for each event by legal seriousness, ranging between an index of 4 (Class A misdemeanors, such as item 1) to an index of 8 (Class 1, corresponding to serious felonies, such as items 6-8). Item 2 was weighted by an index of 5, items 3-4 were weighted by an index of 6, and item 5 was weighted by an index of 7.…”

Pathways to Drug and Sexual Risk Behaviors among Detained Adolescents

“…For instance, gang involvement may lead to increased community violence exposure, or adolescents may join gangs as a consequence of exposure to such violence. Although some researchers have found that community violence exposure is an antecedent to gang involvement (Tolan, Gorman-Smith, & Henry, 2003), future studies using longitudinal designs will need to further disentangle such associations. Findings may also be limited by the validity of the self-reported measures, by the use of a convenience sample of detained adolescents in part necessitated by the need to obtain parental consent and by the possibility of response bias, although sophisticated computer technology was employed in order to reduce such occurrences.…”

Youth violence: What we know and what we need to know.

“…Nevertheless, parents and schools may have some effect in reducing involvement in violence (Fauth, Roth, & Brooks-Gunn, 2007;Ingoldsby et al, 2012;Tolan et al, 2003). Expanded research is needed on effective interventions to reduce youth violence in this context.…”