Skip to main content
PMC home page
American Journal of Public Health logoLink to American Journal of Public Health
. 1998 Jun;88(6):960–963. doi: 10.2105/ajph.88.6.960

Prospective psychosocial, interpersonal, and behavioral predictors of handgun carrying among adolescents.

T R Simon 1, J L Richardson 1, C W Dent 1, C P Chou 1, B R Flay 1
PMCID: PMC1508214  PMID: 9618630

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study identified behavioral and psychosocial/interpersonal factors in young adolescence that are associated with handgun carrying in later adolescence. METHODS: A sample of 2200 high school students was surveyed at 9th grade and again at 12th grade. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that measures of risk-taking preference, depression, stress, temper, and drug use assessed while the students were in 9th grade were predictive of handgun carrying in 12th grade for both male and female students. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest the need for a comprehensive approach to prevention that focuses on both individual and interpersonal factors associated with adolescents' decision to carry a handgun.

Full text

PDF

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Brent D. A., Perper J. A., Allman C. J., Moritz G. M., Wartella M. E., Zelenak J. P. The presence and accessibility of firearms in the homes of adolescent suicides. A case-control study. JAMA. 1991 Dec 4;266(21):2989–2995. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Callahan C. M., Rivara F. P. Urban high school youth and handguns. A school-based survey. JAMA. 1992 Jun 10;267(22):3038–3042. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Centerwall B. S. Race, socioeconomic status, and domestic homicide, Atlanta, 1971-72. Am J Public Health. 1984 Aug;74(8):813–815. doi: 10.2105/ajph.74.8.813. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Cotten N. U., Resnick J., Browne D. C., Martin S. L., McCarraher D. R., Woods J. Aggression and fighting behavior among African-American adolescents: individual and family factors. Am J Public Health. 1994 Apr;84(4):618–622. doi: 10.2105/ajph.84.4.618. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Durant R. H., Getts A. G., Cadenhead C., Woods E. R. The association between weapon carrying and the use of violence among adolescents living in and around public housing. J Adolesc Health. 1995 Dec;17(6):376–380. doi: 10.1016/1054-139X(95)00030-V. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Fingerhut L. A., Ingram D. D., Feldman J. J. Firearm and nonfirearm homicide among persons 15 through 19 years of age. Differences by level of urbanization, United States, 1979 through 1989. JAMA. 1992 Jun 10;267(22):3048–3053. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Jensen G. F., Brownfield D. Gender, lifestyles, and victimization: beyond routine activity. Violence Vict. 1986 Summer;1(2):85–99. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Jessor R. Problem-behavior theory, psychosocial development, and adolescent problem drinking. Br J Addict. 1987 Apr;82(4):331–342. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1987.tb01490.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Orpinas P. K., Basen-Engquist K., Grunbaum J. A., Parcel G. S. The co-morbidity of violence-related behaviors with health-risk behaviors in a population of high school students. J Adolesc Health. 1995 Mar;16(3):216–225. doi: 10.1016/1054-139X(94)00067-O. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. 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]
  11. 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]

Articles from American Journal of Public Health are provided here courtesy of American Public Health Association

RESOURCES