1. The Influence of Risk Factors on the Involvement of School Aged Youth with Gangs, Guns, and Delinquency in El Salvador: Findings from the El Salvador Youth Survey
Research Objective
Two main purposes
1) Examine the effect of risk and protective factor on gang, gun, crime and delinquency involvement of Salvadorian youth
2) Provide Salvadorian policy makers with a framework and evidence for establishing prevention and intervention strategies
Research Question(s)
How do risk factors influence involvement with gangs, guns, and delinquency among school aged youth in El Salvador?
Peer-Individual factors
Family Factors
School Factors
Community Factors
Methods and Data
El Salvador Youth Survey ( )
6th and 9th graders in 81 schools in El Salvador
(n = 8900; n = 6268)
Outcome Variable: Gang Involvement
Being a member, being a member but wanting to leave, being a former member, best friend in gang, current friends in gang
Outcome Variable: Gun Involvement
Self-report having a gun for protection or criminal activity
Outcome Variable: Crime and Delinquency Involvement
Six items of self-reported crime/delinquency
Covariates: 30 Risk Factors
Lidia E. Nuño & Vincent J. Webb

2. Risk Factors associated with Gang Involvement
Gang Involvement = 19.6% (n=1229)
Risk Factors
Community
High community disorganization (+)
Perceived availability of handguns (+)
Family
Family history of antisocial behavior (+)
Poor family management (+)
Parental attitudes favorable towards alcohol use (+)
Parental attitudes favorable towards drug use (-)
Peer-Individual
Antisocial Peers (+)
Peers’ drug use (+)
Peers’ alcohol use (+)
Rewards for antisocial involvement (+)
Depression (+)
Sensation seeking (+)
The +/- refers to the associations -- Parental attitudes favorable towards drug use was actually related to a DECREASE in GM

3. Risk Factors associated with Gun Involvement
Gun Involvement = 5.3% (n=327)
Risk Factors
Community
Perceived availability of handguns (+)
Perceived availability of drugs (-)
Family
Poor family management (+)
Peer-Individual
Antisocial Peers (+)
Peers’ drug use (+)
Rewards for antisocial involvement (+)
Sensation seeking (+)

4. Risk Factors associated with Crime and Delinquency
Involvement in Crime and Delinquency = 8.5% (n=517)
Risk Factors
Community
High community disorganization (+)
Laws and norms favorable to drugs (+)
Perceived availability of handguns (+)
Family
Family history of antisocial behavior (+)
Parental attitudes favorable towards antisocial (+)
Peer-Individual
Rebelliousness (+)
Early initiation of antisocial behavior (+)
Attitudes favorable to antisocial behavior (+)
Depression (+)
The +/- refers to the associations -- Parental attitudes favorable towards drug use was actually related to a DECREASE in GM