Vulnerability to Victimization, Concurrent Problem Behaviors, and Peer Influence as Predictors of In-School Weapon Carrying Among High School Students

• NCJ Number: 173377
• Journal: Violence and Victims Volume: 12 Issue: 3 Dated: Fall 1997 Pages: 277-289
• Author(s): T R Simon; C W Dent; S Sussman
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 13 pages
• Grant Number(s): DA07601
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Data on 504 students from 7 high schools in southern California were used to study the relationship between weapon carrying and general juvenile delinquency, self-protection, and social influence.

Abstract

The data revealed that 25 percent of the students carried a weapon to school in the last year. Self-defense was the most commonly reported reason for in-school weapon carrying. Results from a simultaneous logistic regression analysis indicated increased risk of in-school weapon carrying among students who were male, who were affiliated with gangs or tagging crews, who were exposed to peers who carried weapons to school, and who felt vulnerable to being victimized. Findings indicated that prevention programs targeted at reducing in-school weapon carrying may benefit from a comprehensive focus that includes efforts to reduce involvement in other problem behaviors, influence norms regarding weapon carrying, and reduce actual and perceived vulnerability to victimization. Tables and 29 references (Author abstract modified)