Gang involvement among adolescents in nine Nordic cities: A comparative study on associated risk factors

Rising youth gang involvement in the Nordic countries has become a growing concern, particularly due to its association with crime and other problem behaviours. This study is the first to examine the prevalence and risk factors of street gang involvement among adolescents from nine cities in five Nordic countries. Using comparative, cross-national probability city samples from the fourth wave of the International Self-Reported Delinquency Study (ISRD4), the analysis includes data from 9039 adolescents aged 13–17 from Denmark (n = 1094), Finland (n = 2037), Iceland (n = 3007), Norway (n = 1559), and Sweden (n = 1342). Based on the Eurogang measurement, the findings highlight significant differences in gang involvement across cities, with Stockholm exhibiting the highest prevalence of youth gang involvement (16%). These differences persisted after adjusting for individual-level risk factors. Adolescents involved in gangs reported higher levels of peer delinquency, pro-delinquency attitudes, lifetime assault, as well as lower levels of parental control and self-control. In contrast, family strain and perceived discrimination were associated with street gang involvement only at the city level. The study discusses the implications of these findings for policy and prevention strategies, emphasising the need for targeted interventions to curb the rise of gang involvement among youth in the Nordic region.