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Article
Youth Gang Membership and Serious Violent Victimization: The Importance of Lifestyles and Routine Activities
Journal of Interpersonal Violence (2008)
  • Terrance J. Taylor, University of Missouri–St. Louis
  • Adrienne Freng, University of Wyoming
  • Finn-Aage Esbensen, University of Missouri–St. Louis
  • Dana Peterson, University at Albany, SUNY
Abstract
Youth gangs have received substantial scholarly and public attention during the past two decades. Although most of the extant research on youth gang members has focused on their offending behaviors, recent studies have examined the victimization of youth gang members relative to their nongang peers. Gang members generally have been found to be at increased risk of victimization, although the reasons for this relationship have not fully been explored. The current study uses data from a multisite study of youth to explore whether the gang membership–victimization link is mediated by lifestyles and routine activities. In other words, is gang members' involvement in delinquent lifestyles and routine activities a viable explanation for their increased risk of serious violent victimization? Implications of these findings and suggestions for future research and policy are discussed.
Disciplines
Publication Date
January 10, 2008
DOI
10.1177/0886260508314306
Citation Information
Terrance J. Taylor, Adrienne Freng, Finn-Aage Esbensen and Dana Peterson. "Youth Gang Membership and Serious Violent Victimization: The Importance of Lifestyles and Routine Activities" Journal of Interpersonal Violence Vol. 23 Iss. 10 (2008) p. 1441 - 1464
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/terrance-taylor/11/