Crime, violence and injuries in children and adolescents: common risk factors?

Abstract

Intentional and unintentional injuries are the most important cause of morbidity and mortality to children and adolescents in industrialised countries. Injuries share many important risk factors with crime and violence, including male gender, minority race, low socioeconomic status, poor environments, urban location, poor parenting skills, impulsive and hyperactive behaviour, alcohol and substance abuse, and risk‐taking behaviour. Whilst rates of unintentional injury in children and adolescents have decreased in the last few decades, rates of intentional injury and of violence have increased. Because injuries share many risk factors with crime and violence, interventions to decrease the occurrence of injuries may also be effective in decreasing crime and violence among adolescents and young adults.