1. Emily K. Asencio – University of Akron Tia E. Kim – Penn State Brandywine Kirk R. Williams – University of California, Riverside

2.  Studies demonstrate a clear connection between social bonds and refraining from delinquency and crime (Laub and Sampson 1993; Laub and Sampson 2003)  Additional work, though minimal, demonstrates a connection between an individual’s cognitive and emotional characteristics (Giordano, Cernkovich, and Rudolph 2002; Giordano, Schroeder, and Cernkovich 2007)

3.  Recent studies demonstrate that a combination of bonds and individual characteristics known as “core competencies” provides a more comprehensive explanation for problem behavioral outcomes. (Guerra and Bradshaw 2008; Kim, Guerra, and Williams 2008).

4.  Do competency indicators predict…  persistence of violent behavior into adulthood?  starting violent behavior in adulthood?  Are there gender differences in these relations?

5.  11,610 participants from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health)  Add Health Data set is nationally representative sample of adolescents in grades 7 to 12, conducted in mid-1990s  Current study used data from three waves  Wave I – 1995  Wave II - 1996  Wave III – 2001-2002

6.  Competency Indicators  Self-esteem: 6-item scale (e.g. “you like yourself the way you are”)  Positive affect: 10-item scale (e.g. “bothered by things that usually don’t bother you”)  Self control: 3-item scale (e.g. “you had trouble keeping your mind on what you were doing”)  Decision making: 5-item scale (e.g. “when making decisions, you generally use a systematic method for judging and comparing alternatives”)  Social connectedness: 5-item scale (e.g. “you feel close to people at your school”)

7.  Outcome  Violence during the life course (Violent behavior at Waves I, II, or III)  Desistance from violence during adult transition (Violent behavior at Waves I and/or II, but not Wave III)  Late starters (Violent behavior at Wave III only)

8. Life Course Violence vs. Desisters No Violence vs. Latestarter Gender -1.051.51 Age -.12 Ethnicity Self-Esteem -.06.04 Positive Affect.04-.06 Self Control Decision Making.03 -.04 Social Connectedness.03-.03

9. FEMALESMALES Life Course Violence vs. Desisters No Violence vs. Latestarter Life Course Violence vs. Desisters No Violence vs. Latestarter Age-.08-.12-.11 Ethnicity-.14 Self-Esteem -.05.04-.07.06 Positive Affect-.05.06-.07 Self Control Decision Making -.05-.04 Social Connectedness.05-.03-.02

10.  The same competencies are predictors of different offending status outcomes.  Self esteem is the only competency that is a consistent predictor across all offending patterns and gender.

11.  Studies focused on predictors of violence should consider different offending patterns  Prevention and intervention efforts aimed at reducing violent behaviors should focus on positive development of the core competencies.