RISK-FACTORS FOR ADOLESCENT VIOLENCE - THE IMPORTANCE OF VULNERABILITY

Violence as a function of vulnerability and delinquency was examined i n a sample of 2066 ninth-graders. Vulnerability was examined by severa l proxy measures (being hit, attacked, or touched inappropriately at s chool; being exposed to weapons at school; the absence of the father f rom the home; and mother's educational attainment). Violence was a com posite measure of the frequency of hitting a student, hitting or shovi ng a teacher, carrying a weapon at school, group fighting, and armed r obbery. Vulnerability indicators explained 48% of the variance in viol ence in the first step of a hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Delinquency measures (crime involvement, punishment at school, and dr ug involvement) and attitudes toward school increased the explained va riance to 74%. Vulnerability is posited as a potential central mechani sm for the development of violent behavior. Prospective study of this mechanism is recommended.