Antecedent behaviors of male youth victimization: an exploratory study

The antecedent behavior patterns of violently victimized male youths were a ssessed using a variety of instruments, including the Risk-Taking Survey, A ggression Questionnaire, Weekly Activity Record, and Delinquency Index. Six ty-six percent of the participants reported engaging in risky, delinquent/c riminal, and/or aggressive (RDA) behavior prior to victimization. Victims a ged 20-24 differed significantly from those aged 15-19 in that they reporte d more RDA behaviors prior to the event, and more frequent risky, delinquen t, and aggressive behaviors in general. They also spent more hours engaged in negative activities than the younger group. The findings are congruent w ith the lifestyle-routine activities and risky behavior theories of violent victimization.