Violence-Related Behaviors Among Dominican Adolescents: Examining the Influence of Alcohol and Marijuana Use

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-2-2008

Journal / Book Title

Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse

Abstract

This study identified the predictors of youth violence and violent victimization among a sample of Dominican adolescents (N=155) attending high school in a northeastern urban community. As part of a broader community-based needs assessment, students participated in an evaluation of a substance abuse prevention program funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Correlations, principal components, multiple imputation, and stepwise regression analyses were systematically employed to develop a parsimonious model for predicting violence-related behaviors among Dominican youth. Findings suggest that early onset of alcohol and marijuana use was associated with an increased likelihood of engaging in violence-related behaviors or being the victim of a violent act. In addition, students who reported a lowered sense of safety were more likely to be involved in acts of violence. However, adolescents who reported depressive symptoms were less inclined to become involved in violence-related behaviors. Implications for culturally-tailored violence and substance abuse prevention programming efforts are discussed.

DOI

10.1080/15332640802508028

Published Citation

Reid, R. J., Garcia-Reid, P., Klein, E., & McDougall, A. (2008). Violence-Related Behaviors Among Dominican Adolescents: Examining the Influence of Alcohol and Marijuana Use. Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse, 7(4), 404–427. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332640802508028

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