INTRODUCTION
Gang membership is often associated with negative consequences from use of illicit substances (Battin-Pearson et al. 1999; Eitle, Gunkel, and Gundy 2004; Hennigan et al. 2014), antisocial behaviour (Esbensen and Melde 2011; Hennigan et al. 2014), stressful life events (Eitle et al 2004; Hennigan et al 2014), and violent criminal activity (Battin-Pearson et al. 1999; Deschenes and Esbenson 1998; Eitle et al. 2004; Esbensen and Melde 2011; Hennigan et al. 2014). This literature will review the social factors that lead youth to join gangs. These factors include family, peer, and school influences.
SCHOOL INFLUENCES Influences at school can be responsible for a young adult’s transition into a gang. It is well known that adolescent gang members have a low commitment to school and often drop out, as a result, however, this can mean that they do not return (Hennigan 2014; Esbensen and Melde 2011; Battin-Pearson 1999). Effects of this truancy are likely worsened by the school system’s failure to instill guilt for skipping …show more content…
Factors such as weak familial bonds and poor family management (Hennigan et al. 2014; Eitle et al. 2004) were viewed as factors that put youth at risk. Battin-Pearson et al. (1999) found that gang identified youth are more likely than non-gang identified youth to live with their mother or someone other than their parents (Deschenes and Esbenson 1998) possibly due to a death, divorce, or parental troubles with the police (Hennigan et al. 2014; Eitle et al. 2004). The most reported factor for gang membership in adolescence is the lack of sufficient parental monitoring (Battin-Pearson et al. 1999; Deschenes and Esbenson 1998; Eitle et al. 2004; Esbensen and Melde 2011; Hennigan et al. 2014). If the youth is likely to believe that the parental figure is not monitoring their delinquent actions, they become more likely to join a
Gang membership is often associated with negative consequences from use of illicit substances (Battin-Pearson et al. 1999; Eitle, Gunkel, and Gundy 2004; Hennigan et al. 2014), antisocial behaviour (Esbensen and Melde 2011; Hennigan et al. 2014), stressful life events (Eitle et al 2004; Hennigan et al 2014), and violent criminal activity (Battin-Pearson et al. 1999; Deschenes and Esbenson 1998; Eitle et al. 2004; Esbensen and Melde 2011; Hennigan et al. 2014). This literature will review the social factors that lead youth to join gangs. These factors include family, peer, and school influences.
SCHOOL INFLUENCES Influences at school can be responsible for a young adult’s transition into a gang. It is well known that adolescent gang members have a low commitment to school and often drop out, as a result, however, this can mean that they do not return (Hennigan 2014; Esbensen and Melde 2011; Battin-Pearson 1999). Effects of this truancy are likely worsened by the school system’s failure to instill guilt for skipping …show more content…
Factors such as weak familial bonds and poor family management (Hennigan et al. 2014; Eitle et al. 2004) were viewed as factors that put youth at risk. Battin-Pearson et al. (1999) found that gang identified youth are more likely than non-gang identified youth to live with their mother or someone other than their parents (Deschenes and Esbenson 1998) possibly due to a death, divorce, or parental troubles with the police (Hennigan et al. 2014; Eitle et al. 2004). The most reported factor for gang membership in adolescence is the lack of sufficient parental monitoring (Battin-Pearson et al. 1999; Deschenes and Esbenson 1998; Eitle et al. 2004; Esbensen and Melde 2011; Hennigan et al. 2014). If the youth is likely to believe that the parental figure is not monitoring their delinquent actions, they become more likely to join a