A multivariate analysis of gun violence among urban youth: The impact of direct victimization, indirect victimization, and victimization among peers

Abstract

Research suggests that many adolescents involved in violence as victims become offenders themselves as they are exposed to increased levels of indirect victimization, direct victimization, and peer victimization. While there is a connection between witnessing events, the actual attack with guns, and peer violence, all of which have an effect on delinquent behavior, less is known about whether this relationship differs by age and gender. Survey instruments (e.g. questionnaires) completed by 500 lower socioeconomic African American youth between the ages of 12 and 18 in the state of Virginia were gathered to explain youth delinquency, namely committing a crime with a gun, as an effect of exposure to violence and peer victimization. A hierarchical regression analysis shows that direct exposure as a measure of victimization is the greatest predictor of offending while correlations between victimization and delinquency are all statistically significant. Significant interactions indicate a moderating effect of age, i.e. age has a different impact on behavior of higher and lower risk of peer victimization groups, further suggesting that an increase in age increases the positive effect of peer victimization on gun related delinquency. These understandings of distinct risk factors among urban Black adolescents can be used to explain delinquent outcomes and anti-social behavior. Future studies examining the interrelationship between exposure and violence as a victim and repeated exposure to violence as an offender should address the extent to which these variables differ by age and gender as prevention strategies continue to be implemented.

Keywords:

• delinquents
• victim
• violence
• delinquency
• juvenile justice

Public Interest Statement

Violent victimization among urban youth remains a significant problem. The findings of this research suggest that youth can be victimized in a variety of ways including associating with other peers who have been victims of violent crimes themselves. It is therefore important for educators and policy makers alike to incorporate an understanding of the impact of peer victimization that may vary by age and gender in their efforts to prevent subsequent victimization and enhance intervention efforts.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Zina T. McGee

Zina T. McGee, PhD, is an Endowed University Professor of Sociology at Hampton University. She teaches courses in Statistics, Research Methods, Violence against Women, Juvenile Delinquency and Victimology. Her research focuses on coping, victimization and violent offending among urban youth, and the impact of maternal incarceration on children’s emotional and behavioral outcomes.

Kyle Logan

Kyle Logan, Joseph Samuel and Tandeka Nunn are student research assistants in the Department of Sociology at Hampton University. The research team members are active in the research field of victimization among youth exposed to community violence and patterns of coping among incarcerated mothers upon reentry.