The Relationship Between Chicago Gangs and Youth Mental Health

While previous research on gang affiliation in youth has focused on areas such as predictors of or protective factors against gang involvement, little work has been done investigating the relationship between gangs and youth mental health. However, research has also shown that adolescence is a crucial point in human development, with mental health during this time period greatly predicting future life outcomes (Newcomb & Bentler, 1988). If gang affiliated youth indeed exhibit different mental health symptoms and needs compared to non affiliated youth, it is important to understand these differences in order to best meet their needs and ensure healthy psychosocial development. With increasing numbers of adolescents joining gangs at younger ages, the need to understand this relationship rises (Stuart, 2020). In order to better understand this relationship, this study focuses on exploring both positive mental health traits such as belonging, identity, and self-esteem, and also negative mental health traits such as trauma. From there, it aims to determine the relationship between these variables and level of gang affiliation to investigate if youth who are more gang involved are affected more strongly by these mental health traits. By doing so, this study aims to better understand the mental health needs of affiliated youth and how to best meet them.