THE CORRELATES OF YOUTH VIOLENCE: EVIDENCE FROM THE LITERATURE

Abstract

<p>This review provides a general presentation of the factors that are linked to youth violence. In general, these risk factors can include any of the following: pregnancy and delivery complications, emotion-related disorders, hyperactivity, concentration problems, restlessness, risk taking, aggressiveness, early initiation into violent behaviour and beliefs, and attitudes supportive to violent behaviour. What can increase our accuracy of prediction for youth violence is an appreciation of the systemic factors that interact with these individual risk factors. These can include factors within the family including: early family conditions related to poverty, abuse, a generally poor relationship between child and parent, and parental criminality. Peers also play a role in rewarding behaviour and attitudes supportive of youth violence. The implications for knowledge with respect to these correlates are highlighted in a review of promising programs that address youth violence.</p>