Prediction of violence perpetration among high-risk youth.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively examine demographic background, personality, perceived environment, and behavior as violence perpetration predictors in emerging adulthood among high-risk adolescents using problem-behavior theory as a conceptual perspective.


METHODS
Self-report questionnaires were administered 5 years apart to 676 participants.


RESULTS
Hard drug use, belief that hurting another's property while drunk was acceptable, and high-risk group self-identification predicted later violence perpetration independent of baseline violence perpetration.


CONCLUSIONS
Consistent with problem-behavior theory, personality, perceived environment, and behavior variables, beyond baseline violent behavior, predict risk for future violence perpetration in emerging adulthood, whereas demographic background may exert indirect effects.
Sussman
Steve
S
Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Alhambra, CA 91803, USA. ssussma@usc.edu
Skara
Silvana
S
Weiner
Michelle D
MD
Dent
Clyde W
CW
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000453:epidemiology; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011336:Probability; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*