Weapon carrying among black adolescents: A social network perspective

Abstract

Objectives. This report describes the salience of social networks to the phenomena of adolescent weapon carrying. Methods. A random-walk network sampling design was used to survey 113 adolescents about topics, including weapon carrying. Results. In a probability sample of 12- to 15-year-olds, 20.9% reported ever carrying a weapon. Carriers were eight times as likely as noncarriers to report weapon carrying by an older associate, and 19 times as likely to report weapon carrying by a peer. A significant dose-response effect was present. Conclusions. This evidence supports the interpretation that modeling of weapon carrying by personal network members is important for its initiation and maintenance in adolescence.