NCJ Number
154849
Journal
Journal of Gang Research Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: (Spring 1995) Pages: 1-13
Date Published
1995
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study examines Fagan's social developmental model through a path analysis to see whether it could serve as a causal model in terms of factors that influence gang affiliation among Asian-American high school students. Results suggest that gang affiliation among those students is better understood in the combination of the factors contained in Fagan's model.
Abstract
The data in this study were derived from the first National Survey of Asian-American High School Students sponsored by the National Gang Crime Research Center in 1992. The subjects were 358 Asian-American high school students from 20 cities in five regions of the country. The path analysis concludes that there are causal relationships between factors in social environmental, social bond, and psychological development aspects, and the dependent variable--gang affiliation. Research findings suggest an increased concern about Asian gangs in the following ways: (1) increased ethnic diversity of gang composition; and (2) more controversy concerning the causation of why Asian youths join gangs, i.e., gang affiliation. This study concluded that: (1) the threat of youth gangs to public safety and order is no longer exclusively a police problem, but a societal problem; (2) causations come from many dimensions of social life; (3) the gang problem is becoming more widespread and diverse; and (4) the directional social bond, personality, cognitive skill, and social environmental factors are likely adequate causal indicators of gang affiliation among Asian-American high school students. Appendix, references, endnotes, figure