This study examined whether prominent accounts of adolescent weapon carrying (i.e., fear and victimization, deviant lifestyle) differentially explain weapon carrying across low- and high-rate carriers.
Panel data from 1,285 students from nine U.S. cities were used to establish time-order of variables. Results suggest victimization differentiates non-weapon carriers from infrequent weapon carriers but does not predict higher rates of carrying. High-rate weapon carriers reported lower fear but higher levels of self-efficacy relative to less frequent weapon carriers. Results suggest common explanations of weapon carrying may not be general, but rather may help to explain idiosyncratic patterns of weapon carrying. (publisher abstract modified)