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Family management and adolescent gun carrying: Mediating roles of unstructured socializing and peer substance use

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  • Loes, Chad N.

Abstract

Adolescent gun carrying is a persistent public health concern. Grounded in social learning theory, this study examined indirect effects of poor family management on adolescent gun carrying through unstructured socializing and peer substance use. Data were drawn from 54,611 adolescents across 685 Florida schools participating in the 2018 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey. A multilevel generalized structural equation model revealed that poor family management was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of gun carrying, even after adjusting for sex, race, grade in school, parental education, parental attachment, self-control, school connectedness, neighborhood disorder, drug selling, physical attacks, and school suspensions. Both unstructured socializing and peer substance use showed significant indirect effects, collectively accounting for approximately 38% of the total effect, with peer substance use representing a stronger pathway. These findings provide insight into how informal social interactions and deviant peer exposure relate to poor family management and gun-carrying propensity, emphasizing the importance of family- and peer-oriented prevention strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Loes, Chad N., 2026. "Family management and adolescent gun carrying: Mediating roles of unstructured socializing and peer substance use," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jcjust:v:104:y:2026:i:c:s0047235226000528
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2026.102645
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