Causes of Juvenile Crime

Youth Violence: Risk and Protective Factors

Risk Factors for the Perpetration of Youth Violence

A combination of individual, relationship, community, and societal factors contribute to the risk of youth violence. Research on youth violence has increased our understanding of factors that make some populations more vulnerable to victimization and perpetration. Risk factors are characteristics associated with youth violence, but they are not direct causes of youth violence.

Research associates the following risk factors with perpetration of youth violence:

Individual Risk Factors

History of violent victimization
Attention deficits, hyperactivity, or learning disorders History of early aggressive behavior
Involvement with drugs, alcohol, or tobacco
Low IQ
Poor behavioral control
Deficits in social cognitive or information-processing abilitieS
High emotional distress
History of treatment for emotional problems
Antisocial beliefs and attitudes
Exposure to violence and conflict in the family

Family Risk Factors

Authoritarian childrearing attitudes
Harsh, lax, or inconsistent disciplinary practices
Low parental involvement
Low emotional attachment to parents or caregivers Low parental education and income
Parental substance abuse or criminality
Poor family functioning
Poor monitoring and supervision of children

Peer and Social Risk Factors

Association with delinquent peers Involvement in gangs
Social rejection by peers
Lack of involvement in conventional activities
Poor academic performance
Low commitment to school and school failure

Community Risk Factors

Diminished economic opportunities
High concentrations of poor residents
High level of transiency
High level of family disruption
Low levels of community participation
Socially disorganized neighborhoods

Protective Factors for the Perpetration of Youth Violence

Protective factors buffer young people from the risks of becoming violent. To date, protective factors have not been studied as extensively or rigorously as risk factors. Identifying and understanding protective factors are equally as important as researching risk factors.

Individual Protective Factors

Intolerant attitude toward deviance
High IQ
High grade point average (as an indicator of high academic achievement)
High educational aspirations
Positive social orientation
Popularity acknowledged by peers
Highly developed social skills/competencies
Highly developed skills for realistic planning
Religious beliefs

Family Protective Factors

Connectedness to family or adults outside the family
Ability to discuss problems with parents
Perceived parental expectations about school performance are high
Frequent shared activities with parents
Consistent presence of parent during at least one of the following: when awakening, when arriving home from school, at evening mealtime, or when going to bed
Involvement in social activities
Parental/family use of constructive strategies for coping with problems (provision of models of constructive coping)

Peer and Social Protective Factors

Possession of affective relationships with those at school that are strong, close, and prosocially oriented
Commitment to school (an investment in school and in doing well at school)
Close relationships with non-deviant peers
Membership in peer groups that do not condone antisocial behavior
Involvement in prosocial activities
Exposure to school climates with the following characteristics: Intensive supervision
Clear behavior rules
Consistent negative reinforcement of aggression
Engagement of parents and teachers

Resources

A Comprehensive Technical Package for the Prevention of Youth Violence and Associated Risk Behaviors[4.09 MB, 64 Pages, 508] Preventing Youth Violence: Opportunities for Action[2.86 MB, 54 Pages, 508]
Connecting the Dots: An Overview of the Links Among Multiple Forms of Violence[2.51 MB, 16 Pages, 508]

References

Mercy J, Butchart A, Farrington D, Cerdá M. Youth violence. In: Krug E, Dahlberg LL, Mercy JA, Zwi AB, Lozano R, editors. World report on violence and health. Geneva (Switzerland): World Health Organization; 2002. p. 25âˆ’56. Available from: URL:
http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention /violence/global_campaign/en/chap2.pdf[PDF 278 KB]
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Youth violence: a report of the Surgeon General [online]; 2001. Available from: URL: www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/youthviolence/toc.html.
Lipsey MW, Derzon JH. Predictors of violent and serious delinquency in adolescence and early adulthood: a synthesis of longitudinal research. In: Loeber R, Farrington DP, editors. Serious and violent juvenile offenders: risk factors and successful interventions. Thousand Oaks (CA): Sage Publications; 1998. p. 86âˆ’105.
Resnick MD, Ireland M, Borowsky I. Youth violence perpetration: what protects? What predicts? Findings from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Journal of Adolescent Health 2004;35:424.e1âˆ’e10.
Dubow, EF, Huesmann, LR, Boxer, P, Smith, C. Childhood and adolescent risk and protective factors for violence in adulthood. Journal of Criminal Justice 2016; 45, 26-31.
Lösel, F, & Farrington, D P. Direct protective and buffering protective factors in the development of youth violence. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2012; 43(2), S8-S23.