http://goo.gl/05TxJl
Adolescent gang members in the U.S. experience much higher rates of depression and suicidality than the general population, according to a new study that appears in the journalCriminal Justice and Behavior. While those who join gangs are typically seen as highly problematic individuals, this research at least sheds some light on what motivates them to do so, suggesting that gang membership is often seen as a coping strategy by youngsters suffering from psychological disorders.
Moreover, the study authors assert that involvement in street gangs rarely has the desired effect, and appears to exacerbate rather than alleviate mental suffering.
To conduct the study, researchers examined data collected as part of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, a survey of around 15,000 middle school and high school students conducted over two years in the mid-1990s. As part of the survey, participants were asked a number of questions designed to evaluate their levels of depression, suicidality, and several other makers of mental health.