Moderating the Effect of Risk Factors: The Influence of Social Support on the Willingness to Support Violence Among Norwegian Youth and Young Adults

Abstract

ABSTRACT Adverse experiences and risk-taking behavior in adolescent life have been found to influence the willingness to support violence or adopt extremist ideology. The objective of this study was to explore how experienced discrimination, delinquency, and mental well-being influenced support for ideological violence, and to what extent social support moderated this influence. This research utilized data from a large-sample study (N = 2588) of Norwegian youth and young adults recruited from upper-secondary schools and follow-up services. Through two multiple regression analyses, both discrimination and delinquency were identified to increase the willingness to support violence. However, social support from friends or close family members moderated the effect of these factors on the willingness to support violence and reduced the willingness to support violence itself. To understand how social support facilitates this influence, future research should examine more specifically the quality and quantity of social relationships. This can lead to a deeper understanding of how social support (1) interacts with risk factors and (2) possibly how social support can be harnessed and operationalized in prevention and intervention programs aimed at reducing extremist attitudes.