Risk Factors and Coping Skills for Juvenile Victims

Risk Factors and Coping Skills for Juvenile Victims
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Risk Factors and Coping Skills for Juvenile Victims
Disaffected youth may exhibit behaviors that put them at an increased risk of becoming juvenile victims. For example, in the case of Megan Kanka, association with neighbor Mr. Timmendequas put her at risk and eventually caused her victimization and death (Glaberson, 1997). Two of such behaviors are carrying of weapons and association with delinquent peers. Children are at increased exposure to victimization and violence. According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (n.d.), there are very high rates of interpersonal victimization and violence of children between the ages 12 and 18 years in the US. The teenagers in the country experience far higher violent crime rates than other members of the population. It is thus important that behaviors that put them at risk be examined and ways to reduce them implemented.
Carrying weapons and associating with delinquent peers has been shown to increase the likelihood of victimization among juveniles. According to Loeber, Kalb, & Huizinga (2001), male juveniles that carry weapons were found to be victimized thrice as likely as those that did not carry weapons. The authors point out that between 27% and 30% of weapon carriers were found to be victims while only 10% of those that did not carry weapons were victims. It is thus evident that the behavior of carrying weapons among juveniles puts them at an increased risk of being victimized. As noted by Loeber, Kalb, & Huizinga (2001), association with delinquent peers can also increase the likelihood of the youth being victimized. The authors note that the peers that the victims associate with have little problem-solving and social skills. Such association could lead to a young person engaging in fights with other gang members. The authors also point out that such victims are likely to engage in unlawful activities and victimize other delinquents. Therefore, their association with delinquent peers increases their risk of bein...