Conventional and Delinquent Activities: Implications for the Prevention of Violent Victimization among Adolescents

Abstract

While age is one of the most important correlates of an individual’s risk of violent victimization, research regarding the victimization of adolescents is relatively meager. Using two well-known national data sources and an analytical framework guided by lifestyle/routine activities theories, we describe the relationships between activity involvement and the risk of assault and robbery victimization among adolescents in the United States. Several findings relevant to victimization prevention emerge. First, we find that certain adolescent activities are related to risk of violence. Youth who engage in delinquent activities experience the highest risk of assault and robbery victimization. Second, we find very few conventional activities which protect adolescents from victimization net of background factors (e.g., gender, race, family structure) or offending levels. We discuss the implications of these findings for programs directed at reducing violent victimization among adolescents and for lifestyle/routine activities theories of victimization.