Abstract
Background and Goals: 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 individual’s exposure to violence within this relationship.
Method: 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 nongang comparison group. Results: 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. Conclusion: Discussion focuses on the need for researchers, practitioners and policymakers 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.Keywords: Gangs, anxiety, depression, paranoia, victim and perpetrator trauma, mental-illness.
Adolescent Psychiatry
Title:Gang Involvement, Mental Health Difficulties and Exposure to Violence in 11-16-Year-Old School Students
Volume: 10 Issue: 4
Author(s): Georgia A. Naldrett and Jane L Wood*
Affiliation:
- Centre of Research and Education in Forensic Psychology (CORE-FP), School of Psychology, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NP,United Kingdom
Keywords: Gangs, anxiety, depression, paranoia, victim and perpetrator trauma, mental-illness.
Abstract: Background and Goals: 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 individual’s exposure to violence within this relationship.
Method: 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 nongang comparison group. Results: 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. Conclusion: Discussion focuses on the need for researchers, practitioners and policymakers 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.Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Naldrett A. Georgia and Wood L Jane *, Gang Involvement, Mental Health Difficulties and Exposure to Violence in 11-16-Year-Old School Students, Adolescent Psychiatry 2020; 10 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/2210676610999201229141153
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/2210676610999201229141153 |
Print ISSN 2210-6766 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 2210-6774 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Application of NSAIDs and Derived Compounds in Alzheimers Disease
Current Alzheimer Research Role of Nitric Oxide and Reactive Oxygen Species in Arthritis
Current Pharmaceutical Design Anti-Neuroinflammatory Potential of Polyphenols by Inhibiting NF-κB to Halt Alzheimer's Disease
Current Pharmaceutical Design Current Trends in Drug Delivery System of Curcumin and its Therapeutic Applications
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Convolutional Neural Network-based MR Image Analysis for Alzheimer’s Disease Classification
Current Medical Imaging Low Baseline Urine Creatinine Excretion Rate Predicts Poor Outcomes among Critically Ill Acute Stroke Patients
Current Neurovascular Research Insulin and the Future Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets IL-27: Friend or Foe in the Autoimmune Diseases
Current Immunology Reviews (Discontinued) Nonsynaptic Receptors for GABA and Glutamate
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Editorial (Thematic Issue: Endothelium: A Target for Therapeutic Intervention)
Current Vascular Pharmacology An Integrated and Disease-Oriented Growth Factor-Regulated Signal Transduction Network
Current Molecular Medicine Heat Shock Protein 90 Inhibitors as Therapeutic Agents
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery Antibody-directed Double Suicide Gene Therapy Targeting of MUC1- Positive Leukemia Cells In Vitro and In Vivo
Current Gene Therapy Neuroimaging of Consciousness and Sleep Spindles
Recent Patents on Medical Imaging Recent Developments in CE-MS Based Metabolomics
Current Analytical Chemistry Scrutinizing different EEG-Based Mechanisms for Motor Control and Rehabilitation of Lower Limb Disabilities
Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering (Discontinued) CEST MRI for Molecular Imaging of Brain Metabolites
Current Molecular Imaging (Discontinued) Quantum Chemical Assessment of the Interaction of Potential Anticorrosion Additives with Steel Surface
Innovations in Corrosion and Materials Science (Discontinued) Cardiovascular Toxicity from the Perspective of Oxidative Stress, Electron Transfer, and Prevention by Antioxidants
Current Vascular Pharmacology Antibody Engineering, Virus Retargeting and Cellular Immunotherapy: One Ring to Rule Them All?
Current Gene Therapy