NCJ Number
170142
Journal
Youth and Society Volume: 29 Issue: 2 Dated: (December 1997) Pages: 139-165
Date Published
1997
Length
27 pages
Annotation
Explanations of gang membership were studied in a population of 11,000 secondary school students, along with the consequences of gang membership.
Abstract
Data were obtained from the population of secondary school students in six districts in the Pikes Peak region of Colorado. An anonymous questionnaire was distributed to students during regular class time in November 1992 as part of a continuing community-wide effort to examine problems that confront youth. The instrument was in two forms that were randomly assigned to respondents. Both forms contained a core of 66 items that measured background variables; gang membership; use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; and delinquency. Form A contained 21 additional items on self-concept of academic ability, education, religion, and work. Form B contained 36 additional items on family, psychosocial health, fear of being harmed, attitudes toward police, and resistance to peer pressure. Background variables were examined in a hierarchical log-linear model for their ability to predict gang membership. Findings show that lower self-esteem, perceived poor academic ability, poor psychosocial health, and weak bonds with institutions apparently preceded gang membership (selection model). Greater drug use, greater delinquency, greater fear of harm, and being armed were both precursors and consequences of gang membership (facilitation and selection models). Gang "wannabes" were partially between nonmembers and members in the study results. Findings are consistent with gang membership as a result of lack of social integration. 2 tables, 1 figure, appended list of items that loaded onto a single factor, and 52 references