Emezue Chuka N, Bishop-Royse Jessica, Udmuangpia Tipparat, Dan-Irabor Dale, Anakwe Adaobi, Julion Wrenetha A, Karnik Niranjan S
Res Sq. 2024 Aug 14:rs.3.rs-4713374. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4713374/v1.
Objectives . The study evaluates the prevalence of risky weapon-carrying behaviors (WCB) among YBM in Chicago and examines their associations with various forms of direct and vicarious violence-youth violence, community violence, and partner abuse-as well as substance use and substance-related aggression. Methods . We performed Pearson Chi-square tests and multivariable negative binomial regression analysis on cross-sectional data from 266 violence-involved young Black males (YBM) in Chicago. This data was collected using a modified version of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Our dependent variable, weapon-carrying behavior, was measured by the frequency of weapon carrying, including items such as guns, knives, and clubs, over the past year. Results . In a sample of 266 YBM (ages 15-24, 99% African American), the mean age was 18.32 ± 3.10 years, and 42.7% had some high school education. The 30-day weapon-carrying incidence was 17.3%, with 19.1% threatening someone with a weapon ≥ 2-3 times in the past year. About one-third engaged in partner violence (30.4%), primarily psychological (36.7%) and physical (28.3%) abuse. Approximately 64.8% experienced some form of violence or aggression in the past year, and 76.4% witnessed community violence. Over 20.8% reported binge drinking, and 43.6% engaged in illicit drug use, with 37.2% participating in or initiating violent acts following alcohol or drug consumption. Negative binomial regression results revealed that exposure to direct and vicarious violence, along with substance use, significantly increased the likelihood of carrying weapons. Specific risk factors such as recent threats or injuries, witnessing violence, involvement in physical altercations, and substance-related aggression significantly predict WCB. Age and relationship dynamics also critically influence these behaviors. Additionally, for each year of age, the risk for WCB increased by 22%. Conclusions . This study identified significant associations between different types of violence, substance use, and risky WCB among YBM in Chicago. The results underscore the need for comprehensive, culturally sensitive, multifaceted interventions addressing both individual and psychosocial factors behind risky WCB. These interventions are crucial for reducing gun violence and improving urban community safety, offering vital data to inform policies and interventions for youth protection in similar environments.
目标。本研究评估了芝加哥年轻黑人男性（YBM）中携带危险武器行为（WCB）的流行情况，并考察了这些行为与各种形式的直接和间接暴力——青少年暴力、社区暴力和伴侣虐待——以及物质使用和与物质相关的攻击行为之间的关联。方法。我们对来自芝加哥266名涉及暴力的年轻黑人男性（YBM）的横断面数据进行了Pearson卡方检验和多变量负二项回归分析。这些数据是使用疾病控制与预防中心青少年风险行为调查的修改版收集的。我们的因变量，即携带武器行为，通过过去一年中携带武器（包括枪支、刀具和棍棒等物品）的频率来衡量。结果。在266名YBM样本（年龄15 - 24岁，99%为非裔美国人）中，平均年龄为18.32±3.10岁，42.7%接受过一些高中教育。30天内携带武器的发生率为17.3%，19.1%的人在过去一年中用武器威胁他人≥2 - 3次。约三分之一的人参与伴侣暴力（30.4%），主要是心理虐待（36.7%）和身体虐待（28.3%）。在过去一年中，约64.8%的人经历过某种形式的暴力或攻击行为，76.4%的人目睹过社区暴力。超过20.8%的人报告有暴饮行为，43.6%的人使用过非法药物，37.2%的人在饮酒或吸毒后参与或发起暴力行为。负二项回归结果显示，接触直接和间接暴力以及物质使用显著增加了携带武器的可能性。近期威胁或受伤、目睹暴力、参与肢体冲突以及与物质相关的攻击行为等特定风险因素显著预测了WCB。年龄和关系动态也对这些行为有至关重要的影响。此外，每增长一岁，WCB的风险增加22%。结论。本研究确定了芝加哥YBM中不同类型的暴力、物质使用和危险WCB之间的显著关联。结果强调需要采取全面的、具有文化敏感性的、多方面的干预措施，以解决危险WCB背后的个人和心理社会因素。这些干预措施对于减少枪支暴力和改善城市社区安全至关重要，为类似环境下的青少年保护政策和干预措施提供了重要数据。
