{"title":"Gang Involvement, Mental Health Difficulties and Exposure to Violence in 11-16-Year-Old School Students","authors":"Georgia A. Naldrett, Jane L. Wood","doi":"10.2174/2210676610999201229141153","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"The current study investigated the relationship between gang involvement and multiple mental health difficulties; anxiety, depression, paranoia, victim trauma and perpetrator trauma. Additionally, it examined the mediating influence of an individuals’ exposure to violence within this relationship. One hundred adolescents aged 11-16 years old, completed two questionnaires and an interview which investigated their friendship groups, exposure to violence and mental well-being. Eighteen participants were identified as current or ex-gang members and the other eighty-two were classified as the non-gang comparison group. Findings show that gang members displayed more symptoms of depression and perpetrator trauma compared to non-gang members. The relationship between gang involvement and these mental health difficulties was mediated by exposure to violence. Discussion focuses on the need for researchers, practitioners and policy makers to acknowledge the relationship between gang involvement and mental health difficulties and implement additional strategies to support young people currently or previously involved in gangs.","PeriodicalId":43326,"journal":{"name":"Adolescent Psychiatry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.4000,"publicationDate":"2021-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Adolescent Psychiatry","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.2174/2210676610999201229141153","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"PEDIATRICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The current study investigated the relationship between gang involvement and multiple mental health difficulties; anxiety, depression, paranoia, victim trauma and perpetrator trauma. Additionally, it examined the mediating influence of an individuals’ exposure to violence within this relationship. One hundred adolescents aged 11-16 years old, completed two questionnaires and an interview which investigated their friendship groups, exposure to violence and mental well-being. Eighteen participants were identified as current or ex-gang members and the other eighty-two were classified as the non-gang comparison group. Findings show that gang members displayed more symptoms of depression and perpetrator trauma compared to non-gang members. The relationship between gang involvement and these mental health difficulties was mediated by exposure to violence. Discussion focuses on the need for researchers, practitioners and policy makers to acknowledge the relationship between gang involvement and mental health difficulties and implement additional strategies to support young people currently or previously involved in gangs.
期刊介绍:
Adolescent Psychiatry a peer-reviewed journal, aims to provide mental health professionals who work with adolescents with current information relevant to the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders in adolescents. Adolescent Psychiatry reports of original research, critical reviews of topics relevant to practitioners, clinical observations with analysis and discussion, analysis of philosophical, ethical or social aspects of the fields of psychiatry and mental health, case reports with discussions, letters, and position papers. Topics include adolescent development and developmental psychopathology, psychotherapy and other psychosocial treatment approaches, psychopharmacology, and service settings and programs. The primary focus of the work should be on adolescents, transition-aged youth, The primary focus of the work should be on adolescents, transition-aged youth, or emerging adults, that is, persons 12-24 years of age . Articles on families of adolescents, or adults who have been followed since adolescence will also be considered.