Prediction of violence perpetration among high-risk youth

Objectives: To prospectively examine demographic background, personality, perceived environment, and behavior as violence perpetration predictors in emerging adulthood among high-risk adolescents using problem-behavior theory as a conceptual perspective. Methods: Self-report questionnaires were administered 5 years apart to 676 participants. Results: Hard drug use, belief that hurting another's property while drunk was acceptable, and high-risk group self-identification predicted later violence perpetration independent of baseline violence perpetration. Conclusions: Consistent with problem-behavior theory, personality, perceived environment, and behavior variables, beyond baseline violent behavior, predict risk for future violence perpetration in emerging adulthood, whereas demographic background may exert indirect effects.