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Perceived Gun Access and Gun Carrying Among Male Adolescent Offenders
Spencer Keil1, Jordan Beardslee2, Carol Schubert1
1Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice
|August 22, 2022
Summary
Adolescent offenders who perceived greater gun access were more likely to carry guns in the future. This study highlights perceived gun availability as a key risk factor for youth gun carrying.
Area of Science:
- Criminology
- Adolescent Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Gun violence significantly impacts adolescents in the U.S.
- Limited longitudinal research exists on perceptual factors influencing gun carrying.
- The relationship between perceived gun accessibility and gun carrying is understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the effects of perceived gun access on gun carrying among adolescent offenders.
- To investigate the longitudinal relationship between perceived gun accessibility and future gun carrying behavior.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Pathways to Desistance Study (2000-2006).
- Employed a generalized estimating equations approach.
- Analyzed perceived gun access alongside other known risk factors for gun carrying over time.
Main Results:
- Perceived gun access was significantly associated with future gun carrying.
- This relationship remained significant even after adjusting for other risk factors.
- Self-reported gun availability is a notable population-based risk factor for gun carrying in high-risk youth.
Conclusions:
- Perceived gun access is a significant predictor of gun carrying behavior in adolescent offenders.
- Findings underscore the importance of addressing perceived availability in interventions.
- Further research into how perceived access mediates gun carrying decisions is recommended for policy development.
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