One-year Prediction of Violence Perpetration Among High-risk Youth    

Steve Sussman, PhD;
Thomas R. Simon, PhD;
Clyde W. Dent, PhD;
Jill M. Steinberg, BS;
Alan W. Stacy, PhD 

Objective: Measures of drug use, law-abidance beliefs, sensation seeking, fear of victimization, high-risk group identification, self- protection needs and behaviors, and demographics were investigated as longitudinal predictors of violence perpetration among 870 high-risk adolescents. Method: Self-reports from the same youth were obtained 1-year apart. Results: In addition tobaseline violence perpetration, marijuana use, relatively young age, male sex, high-risk group self-identification, low perceived efficacy of the police department, and nonavoidance of dangerous places predicted later perpetrated violence. Conclusion: Personal and social factors beyond baseline violent behavior predict risk for future violent behavior.

Am J Health Behav 1999;23(5):332-344