NCJ Number
218992
Journal
Journal of Adolescent Health Volume: 40 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2007 Pages: 551-558
Date Published
June 2007
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study explored the potential link between physical and sexual abuse and weapon carrying by youth.
Abstract
Exposure to certain forms of early child maltreatment may increase weapon carrying in adolescence, particularly for females. Findings also indicate a need for child abuse prevention and intervention programs, especially those for sexual abuse, to address the unique needs of girls. Interventions with sexually abused girls should incorporate personal safety alternatives to weapon carrying, and clinicians should be aware that sexually abused girls’ risk for weapon carrying exceeds that of other maltreated children. Youth violence is a significant public health problem in the United States. A recent national survey indicated that 18.5 percent of all high school students carried a weapon in the month preceding the survey and 5.4 percent reported firearm carrying. Weapon carrying places youth at risk for violence perpetration and increases the likelihood of injury or death. Analyzing cross-sectional data collected from 3,487 students in a large survey of high-risk youth, this study examined the link between early child maltreatment and weapon carrying in adolescents using propensity score stratification where exposure to early child maltreatment is the treatment variable and adolescent weapon carrying behavior is the outcome. Tables and references