Risk Factors of Youth Gun Violence and Effective Community-Based Interventions

Youth violence is an epidemic that affects entire communities. It is the second most common reason for death among those between the ages of 10 and 24 years old (Hayward et al., 2011). Past research of youth violence has shown that the use of guns is a common occurrence, accounting for nearly 80 percent of youth homicides (Gotsch, Annest, Mercy, & Ryan, 2001, as cited in Hardy, 2006). Risk factors for youth gun violence include poverty, residing in urban centers, exposure to violence, lack of family support, and parental monitoring. The purpose of this thesis is to utilize theories of human behavior to describe the risk factors and effects of youth gun violence. Further, this paper will explore community-based interventions that aim to reduce youth gun violence