Youth at risk factors

Youth violence is an important public health problem that result in death and injury. The following statistic provides an overview of youth violence in the United States.

  

  • In 2003, 5.570 young people ages 10 to 24 were murdered –an average of 15 each day. Of these victims 82% were killed with fire arms.
  • Although high- profile schools shootings have increased public concerns for students safety, schools-associated violence deaths accounts for less than 1% of homicides among school aged children and youth (Anderson et al 2001).
  • In 2004, more than 750,000 young people ages 10 to 24 were treated in emergency departments for injuries sustained due to violence (CDC 2006).

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      1. 33% reported being in physical fights one or more times in 12 months preceding the survey.
      2. 17% reported carrying a weapon (e,g.,gun, knife or club) on one or more of the 30 days preceding the survey.

     

    • An estimate 30% of 6th to 7th graders in the United States were involved in bullying or involved as a bully, a target of bullying or both (Nansel et.al 2001).

      •  In 2004, to 2009 this these figures have increased and much younger children and even females are becoming involved in the numbers weather it be the victim of the pursuer of violence activities.

     Consequences

     

    • Direct and indirect cost of youth violence (e.g., medical lost productivity, quality of life) exceeds $158 billion every year (Children safety network & data Analysis Resource center).
    • In a nation wide survey about 6% reported not going to school on one or more days in 30 days preceding the survey because they felt unsafe at school or on their way to and from school (CDC 2004).
    • In addition to causing injury and death youth violence by increasing the cost of health care, reducing productivity, decreasing property value and disrupting social service.

     Groups at risk

     Among 10 to 24 year olds homicide is the leading cause of death from African Americans, the second leading cause of death for Hispanics and the 3rd leading cause of deaths for American Indians, Alaskan native and Asians/ pacific/ Islanders (CDC).

    • Of the 5,570 homicides reported 10 to 24 year olds 86%were males and 14% were female(CDC)
    • Mail students are more likely to be involved in fights than female students.

     Risk factors

     

     Research on youth have increased our understanding of factors that make some population more vulnerable to victimization and perpetration, many risk factors are the same in part, because of the overlap among the victims and perpetrators of violence.

     Risk factors increase the likelihood that a young person will become violence. However risk factors are not direct causes of youth violence; instead, risk factors contribute to youth violence (Mercy et al 2002;DHHS 2001)

    • Research associate the following factors with preparation of youth violence(DHHS; Lipsey and Derzon 1998;Renick et al 2004).

     Individual risk factors

          History of violence and victimization involvement.

    • Attention deficit, hyper activity or learning disorders.
    • History of early aggressive behavior.
    • Involved with drugs alcohol, drugs and tobacco.
    • Low IQ
    • Poor behavior control.
    • Deficits in social cognitive or information process ability.
    • High emotion distress.
    • Antisocial beliefs and attitudes.
    • Exposure to violence and conflict in the family.

     Family risk factors

              ·        Authorization child rearing attitude.

    ·        Harsh, lax or inconsistent disciplinary practices.

    ·        Low parent involvement.

    ·        Low emotional emotion involvement to parents and care givers.

    ·        Low parental education and income.

    ·        Parental substance abuse and criminality.

    ·        Poor monitoring and supervision of children.

     

     Peer /School Risk factors

     

    • Associated with delinquent peers.
    • Involved in gangs.
    • Social rejection by peers.
    • Lack of involvement in conventional activities.
    • Poor academic performance.
    • Low commitment and school failure.

     Community Risk factors

             Diminished economic opportunities.

    • High contraction of poor residents.
    • High levels of transience.
    • High levels of family disruption.
    • Low levels of community participation.
    • Socially disorganizes neighborhoods.

     Protective factors buffer young people from risk of becoming violent. These factors exist at various levels. To date protective factors have not been studied or extensively rigorously as risk factors. However, identifying and understanding protective factors are equally as important as researching risk factors.

     

    Individual protective factors

    Intolerant attitudes towards deviance.

    • High IQ or high grade point average.
    • Positive social orientation.
    • Religiosity.

     Family productivity factors

     Connectedness to families and adults outside of the family.

    • Abilities to discuss problems with parents.
    • Perceive parental expectations about school performance are high.
    • Frequent shares activities with parents.
    • Consistent with parents doing at least one of the following; when awakening, when arriving home from school, at evening meal time and when going to bed.

     Peer school social factors

     

    • Commitment to school.
    • Commitment to outside social activities.

     Parents feel relief

     

    • and confident knowing children re learning self-worth to make good choice, cope with daily stress, prevent stress related behavior and illnesses and how to be calm in stressful situations accentual tool in today’s world.

     Social butterfly school of etiquette

     

    • Social butterfly school of etiquette s foundation for success in life’s challenges with relationships and accomplishments with high self worth, much needed social skills necessary for youth development and growth. Social education a remedy for youth at risk in many cases. when children are tought how to behave in any situation appropriately their questionable behavior changes for the betterment.