Title: Youth gang involvement: What are the risk factors?
Headings: Youth gang involvement: What are the risk factors?
Youth gang involvement: What are the risk factors?
Table of contents
What is a risk factor?
Major risk factors
Major risk factors associated with youth gang involvement
Individual
Peer group
School
Family
Community
Evolving risk factors
Risk factors and prevention
Protective factors and prevention
Community Solutions to Gang Violence (CSGV)
Conclusion
Notes
References

Content: To effectively prevent youth from joining gangs it is essential to understand these risk factors. What is a risk factor? Risk factors can be defined as life events or experiences that are associated with an increase in problem behaviours, such as drug use or gang activities
Footnote
1. For example, being the child of a single-parent who is often absent from the home and lacks adequate support, can be considered a risk factor. The negative influence of a friend
Footnote
2 or sibling can be another. Risk factors can be divided into five categories: Individual characteristics
Peer group
School
Family
Community
Major risk factors
Long-term studies of adolescents in Canadian and American cities (Montréal, Seattle, Washington and Rochester) suggest that the most important risk factors for gang involvement include: negative influences in the youth's life
limited attachment to the community
over-reliance on anti-social peers
poor parental supervision
alcohol and drug abuse
poor educational or employment potential
a need for recognition and belonging
The Seattle study found that children and youth are two to four times more likely to join gangs if they are affected by these factors
Footnote
3. Youth at risk or already involved in gangs tend to be from groups that suffer from the greatest levels of inequality and social disadvantage
Footnote
4. Major risk factors associated with youth gang involvement
Individual
Prior delinquency
Illegal gun ownership
Drug trafficking
Desire for group rewards such as status, identity, self-esteem, companionship and protection
Anti-social attitudes
Aggression
Alcohol and drug use
Early or precocious sexual activity
Violent victimization
Peer group
High commitment to delinquent peers
Street socialization
Gang members in class
Friends who use drugs or who are gang members
Interaction with delinquent peers
Pre-teen exposure to stress
School
Poor school performance
Low educational aspirations, especially among young females
Negative labelling by teachers
High levels of anti-social behaviour
Few teacher role models
Educational frustration
Low attachment to school
Learning difficulties
Family
Family disorganization, including broken homes and parental drug and/or alcohol abuse
Family violence, neglect and drug addiction
Family members in a gang
Lack of adult and parental role models, parental criminality, parents with violent attitudes, siblings with anti-social behaviours
Extreme economic deprivation
Community
Social disorganization, including high poverty and residential mobility
High crime neighbourhood;