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Abstract
Interpersonal violence is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among adolescents
and young adults. In this study, 246 inner city, predominantly black youth (ages 14–23
years) were surveyed regarding their exposure to, and participation in, violent acts.
An in-depth psychological interview was also completed. A total of 44% reported they
could access a gun within one day, 42% have seen someone shot or knifed, and 22% have
seen someone killed. In the preceding 3 months, 18% reported carrying a gun, and 32%
had been in a physical fight; 34 subjects were rated by the psychologists as at high
risk for involvement in violent acts. Those subjects were more likely to be of lower
socioeconomic status (p < 0.01) and to have been physically abused (p < 0.001) but no more likely to be a witness to violent events. Inner-city youth are
frequently exposed to violence. Those at risk for perpetration of violence were more
likely to be at high risk for most other health-risk behaviors.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
March 23,
1990
Footnotes
☆Presented at the Society for Adolescent Medicine National Meeting, Atlanta, GA, March 23, 1990.
Identification
Copyright
© 1993 Published by Elsevier Inc.
