Poster #71 - Same Input, Different Output: Mediating Pathways to Youth Weapon Violence

• In Event: Poster Session I (posters 1 - 79)

Abstract

Prior research has established a correlation between exposure to violence and subsequent weapon use. However, not all youth exposed to violence go on to commit a gun-related offense. This study utilizes data from waves I & II of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) to examine mechanisms that distinguish those who engage in gun violence from those who adhere to desistance pathways. Prior studies examining mechanisms have focused on justice-involved samples, single cities, or clinical samples; utilizing the Add Health data allows the question to be examined using a nationally representative dataset. Drawing on concepts from social learning, general strain, and life-course theories, the current study will assess the extent to which the relationship between an individual’s exposure to violence and their likelihood of committing a gun-related offense during adolescence is mediated by emotional distress, social isolation, and perceptions of violence. Additionally, we will control for important criminological predictors such as age and race. This study will offer critical insights for policymakers seeking to disrupt the cycle of violence by providing institutional support rather than resorting to punitive measures.

Authors

• Olivia Holt, Georgia State University

• Camilla Anson, Georgia State University