Identifying risks for male street gang affiliation: a systematic review and narrative synthesis

Abstract

Gang violence has increased in recent years. Individuals appear to be joining gangs at younger ages, and many have suffered historic maltreatment. Subsequent exposure to violence can result in profound consequences, including acute psychological harm. This review aims to identify predictive risk factors for male street gang affiliation. A systematic literature search was conducted utilising PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, Medline, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the Social Policy and Practice databases (from the databases’ inception to 3 April 2015). From this search, n = 244 peer-reviewed papers were included in an initial scoping review, and n = 102 thereafter met criteria for a systematic review; a narrative synthesis follows. Gang members have typically faced numerous historic adversities across multiple domains; individual, family, peers, school and community. Cumulative factors generated an independent risk. The meta-narrative described an overarching failure to safeguard vulnerable individuals, with the motivation for gang affiliation hypothetically arising from an attempt to have their basic needs met. Clinical and research recommendations were made to inform early intervention policy and practice.

Keywords:

• Gangs
• risks
• community
• violence
• safeguarding
• mental health

Notes

1. The words ‘affiliation’, ‘involvement’ and ‘membership’ are used interchangeably within the gang literature.

2. The Metropolitan Police Service Trident Matrix stores information about currently known gang members. On 31 March 15, there were 3651 gang members on this matrix; 72% were aged between 17 and 24 years, 99% were male, and 78% were from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds (MOPAC, 2015).

3. To view Appendices 1–5, please see the supplementary material at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14789949.2016.1195005.

4. One paper was excluded from these criteria.