NCJ Number
157876
Journal
American Journal of Public Health Volume: 84 Issue: 4 Dated: (April 1994) Pages: 612-617
Date Published
1994
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This study examined the relationships between self-reported exposure to or victimization by violence, and the use of violence among young urban Black adolescents.
Abstract
Subjects included 225 black teenagers between the ages of 11 and 19, living in nine housing projects. The results showed that 84 percent of the respondents had engaged in at least form of violent behavior, including attacking someone they lived with out of anger, engaging in physical fights, carrying or using weapons, or being involved in a gang fight. More males than females had engaged in violent behavior. Self-reported use of violence was correlated with previous exposure to violence and victimization, hopelessness and family conflict, experience of corporal punishment, and age. Use of violence was not associated with family structure, socioeconomic status, religious affiliation, or other demographic variables. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that previous exposure to violence and victimization was the strongest predictor of the youths' own use of violence. Respondents who scored higher on certain resiliency factors seemed better able to withstand the influence of exposure to violence. 6 tables and 50 references