Adolescent predictors of weapon-carrying behavior in schools: A longitudinal perspective

A longitudinal design was used to explore school weapon carrying behavior among 7th--11th graders. The design involved following approximately 13,000 students over a one-year interval, with interviews occurring at the beginning and end of test intervals. Four categories were used to examine the data; (1) students who did not carry a weapon to school at Wave 1 or Wave 2; (2) students who did not carry a weapon to school at Wave 1 but did carry a weapon to school at Wave 2; (3) students who did carry a weapon to school at Wave 1 and did not carry a weapon to school at Wave 2; and (4) students who did carry a weapon to school at both Wave 1 and Wave 2. These four categories allowed the examination of predictors of the initiation of weapon carrying behavior and the cessation of weapon carrying behavior. Three classes of variables (i.e., home, school, and future orientation) were hypothesized to have an influence on school weapon carrying behavior of adolescents. Logistic regression analyses indicated that maternal relationship, accessibility of a weapon, school safety, perceived dislike, and perceived likelihood of being killed by age 21 all predicted both the initiation and cessation of adolescent weapon carrying behavior. Additionally, results indicated a number of interesting demographic differences. Gender was predictive of the initiation of school weapon carrying behavior whereas no such dynamic was operating for the cessation of school weapon carrying behavior. Logistic regression analysis indicated Native Americans as the most likely to carry weapons to school followed by African American and Latino youth and then Asian American and European American adolescents. Furthermore, grade differences were attained whereby 8th and 9th graders were most likely to carry a weapon to school followed by 10th, 11th, and 7th graders, respectively.;Applied implications as well as directions for future research are delineated.