Handgun Carrying Among Youth in the United States: An Analysis of Subtypes. (January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vaughn, Michael G.; Salas-Wright, Christopher P.; Boutwell, Brian B.; DeLisi, Matt; Curtis, Mary P.
• Is Part Of: Youth violence and juvenile justice. Volume 15:Number 1(2017:Jan.)
• Page Start: 21
• Page End: 37
• Publication Date: 2017-01
• Subjects: youth -- handguns -- violence -- drug abuse -- delinquency; Youth and violence -- United States -- Periodicals; Juvenile justice, Administration of -- United States -- Periodicals; Juvenile delinquency -- United States -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Juvenile corrections -- United States -- Periodicals; 364.360973
• DOI: 10.1177/1541204016629721
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1541-2040

Abstract

Despite a wealth of research finding that adolescents who carry handguns are involved in risky behaviors, there has been little exploration into the heterogeneity of this behavior. Using a pooled sample of 12- to 17-year-olds from the National Study on Drug Use and Health who report past-year handgun carrying ( N = 7, 872), this study identified four subgroups of handgun carriers: low risk ( n = 3, 831; 47.93%), alcohol and marijuana users ( n = 1, 591; 20.16%), fighters ( n = 1, 430; 19.40%), and severe externalizers ( n = 1, 020, 12.51%). These subgroups differed on demographic, behavioral, and psychosocial characteristics. Findings are discussed in light of prevention and focused deterrence.