Prospective psychosocial, interpersonal, and behavioral predictors of handgun carrying among adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
This study identified behavioral and psychosocial/interpersonal factors in young adolescence that are associated with handgun carrying in later adolescence.


METHODS
A sample of 2200 high school students was surveyed at 9th grade and again at 12th grade.


RESULTS
Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that measures of risk-taking preference, depression, stress, temper, and drug use assessed while the students were in 9th grade were predictive of handgun carrying in 12th grade for both male and female students.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest the need for a comprehensive approach to prevention that focuses on both individual and interpersonal factors associated with adolescents' decision to carry a handgun.
Simon
T R
TR
Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA. tgs9@cdc.gov
Richardson
J L
JL
Dent
C W
CW
Chou
C P
CP
Flay
B R
BR
D000293:Adolescent; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005389:Firearms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology