Early Adolescent Predictors of Youth Violence as Mediators of Childhood Risks

Abstract

Analyses were conducted to assess whether risk factors for youth violence measured at 10 years of age influenced later violence directly or indirectly through predictors measured in early adolescence (14 years of age). Analyses revealed that many childhood risks—which included teacher-rated hyperactivity/low attention, teacher-rated antisocial behavior, parental attitudes favorable to violence, involvement with antisocial peers, low family income, and availability of drugs in a neighborhood—had strong and persistent effects on later violence. However, mediation effects also were noted for most factors. Male gender and low neighborhood attachment measured at 10 years of age were the only two risks that appeared not to be mediated partially by predictors at 14 years of age. School and peer predictors of violence measured at 14 years of age were the strongest mediators of the earlier risk factors. Those predictors consistently added to the explanatory power of each model that was tested.