Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This report describes the salience of social networks to the phenomena of adolescent weapon carrying. METHODS: A random-walk network sampling design was used to survey 113 adolescents about topics, including weapon carrying. RESULTS: In a probability sample of 12- to 15-year-olds, 20.9% reported ever carrying a weapon. Carriers were eight times as likely as noncarriers to report weapon carrying by an older associate, and 19 times as likely to report weapon carrying by a peer. A significant dose-response effect was present. CONCLUSIONS: This evidence supports the interpretation that modeling of weapon carrying by personal network members is important for its initiation and maintenance in adolescence.
Full text
PDFSelected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Black M. M., Ricardo I. B. Drug use, drug trafficking, and weapon carrying among low-income, African-American, early adolescent boys. Pediatrics. 1994 Jun;93(6 Pt 2):1065–1072. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Botvin G. J., Baker E., Goldberg C. J., Dusenbury L., Botvin E. M. Correlates and predictors of smoking among black adolescents. Addict Behav. 1992;17(2):97–103. doi: 10.1016/0306-4603(92)90014-m. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Cherpitel C. J. Alcohol and casualties: a comparison of emergency room and coroner data. Alcohol Alcohol. 1994 Mar;29(2):211–218. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kandel D. B. On processes of peer influences in adolescent drug use: a developmental perspective. Adv Alcohol Subst Abuse. 1985 Spring-Summer;4(3-4):139–163. doi: 10.1300/J251v04n03_07. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sheley J. F., McGee Z. T., Wright J. D. Gun-related violence in and around inner-city schools. Am J Dis Child. 1992 Jun;146(6):677–682. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1992.02160180035012. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Urberg K. A., Cheng C. H., Shyu S. J. Grade changes in peer influence on adolescent cigarette smoking: a comparison of two measures. Addict Behav. 1991;16(1-2):21–28. doi: 10.1016/0306-4603(91)90036-h. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Urberg K. A., Shyu S. J., Liang J. Peer influence in adolescent cigarette smoking. Addict Behav. 1990;15(3):247–255. doi: 10.1016/0306-4603(90)90067-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Webster D. W., Gainer P. S., Champion H. R. Weapon carrying among inner-city junior high school students: defensive behavior vs aggressive delinquency. Am J Public Health. 1993 Nov;83(11):1604–1608. doi: 10.2105/ajph.83.11.1604. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]