67. Sustaining Non-Violence Among Adolescents And Young Adults In A Latino Community

Abstract

Violence remains the leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults in the Americas. One prevention strategy is to identify and sustain factors that already exert protective effects. Bivariate analyses using trichotomization determined if 16 potential factors had protective and/or risk relationships with NOT perpetrating violence. A logistic regression model determined variables most strongly correlated with non-violence. Adolescents and young adults in one predominantly Latino urban community completed self-administered surveys prior to participation in a prevention program. Participants reported race/ethnicity, gender, age, and perpetration of 20 potential acts of violence in the last 30 days. 14 potential factors were measured with scales. Marijuana and alcohol use were each assessed with one survey item. Participants reporting no act of violence were classified as non-violent. To determine whether factors had protective and/or risk relationships with non-violence, bivariate analyses used trichotomization to compare at both ends of the distribution. Tests to identify protective factors compared the top 25% with the middle 50%; tests to identify risk factors compared the lower 25% with the middle 50%. If a variable only had a significant effect (p<.05) at one end it was classified only as either a protective or risk factor. In a forward stepwise logistic regression model the dependent variable was the dichotomous non-violent outcome. Variables with significant protective and/or risk effects in the bivariate analyses were used in the regression model. 464 participants. 86% Latino; 54% female; 25% 10-12, 53% 13-17, and 22% 18-23 years old. 27% were non-violent. Five variables had both protective and risk effects (p<.05): thoughtful decision making, parental support of violence, hyperactive-impulsive symptoms, inattentive symptoms, and depression symptoms. Seven variables had protective effects only: low exposure to community violence, low belief in aggression, high belief in non-violent conflict resolution, more academic behaviors, high academic achievement motivation, high presence of peer support, and no use of marijuana. Two variables had risk effects only: low presence of adult support and low sense of purpose. Parental support of non-violence (p>.07) and no alcohol use (p=.20) were not associated with non-violence. Five variables and age remained in the final regression model. High thoughtful decision making (p<.001), low parental support of violence (p=.002), low hyperactive-impulsive symptoms (p<.001), low inattentive symptoms (p=.013), and low exposure to community violence (p=.001) increased the likelihood of being non-violent. Multiple protective factors were identified and can be reinforced to maintain non-violence. One strategy to help young people remain non-violent would be to engage parents in working toward creating and sustaining non-violent communities where youth can engage in their natural routine of thoughtful decision making. Another strategy is to provide effective care for young people with ADHD.