Siblings and Adolescent Weapon Carrying: Contributions of Genetics, Shared Environment, and Nonshared Environment

Citation

Wallace, Lacey N. (2017). Siblings and Adolescent Weapon Carrying: Contributions of Genetics, Shared Environment, and Nonshared Environment. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice. vol. 15 (3) pp. 264-280

Abstract

Many past studies have observed evidence of sibling similarity and influence for delinquency and substance use. However, studies of sibling similarity for adolescent weapon carrying, particularly for weapons beyond firearms, are largely absent from the literature. The present study assesses sibling similarity in weapon carrying as well as the relative contributions of genetics, shared environment, and nonshared environment. Data are obtained from the first two waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health and analyzed using biometrical genetic models for twins and actor–partner interdependence models for nontwins. Results indicate little, if any, contribution stemming from genetics. There is also no evidence of a significant shared environment effect. Instead, all or nearly all of the variation and similarity in weapon carrying among siblings are related to the nonshared environment, particularly gang affiliation. Implications and possible extensions of these findings are discussed.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1177%2F1541204016639354

Keyword(s)

siblings

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice

Author(s)

Wallace, Lacey N.

Year Published

2017

Volume Number

Issue Number

Pages

264-280

Edition

March 18, 2016

DOI

10.1177/1541204016639354

NIHMSID

NIHMS794436

Reference ID

8227