The findings from this study suggest that there are youth assets as well as demographic characteristics that might have
protected against youths’ self-reported physical fighting in the past year and weapon carrying in the past 30 days. It is
not surprising that youth with the assets of experiencing family communication and making responsible choices were significantly more likely to report no physical fighting and not carrying a weapon. Male youth were particularly at risk for both fighting and weapon carrying when compared with female youth, and some racial/ethnic groups were more likely
to report weapon carrying than others. Finally, being in high school, living in a two-parent household, and living in a
family having a higher family income were also associated with no physical fighting. Further studies are needed to clarify the findings of this study that conflict with previous research regarding use of time in religious activities. In this study, the asset was not protective for either of the risk behaviors studied. Further research is also needed to determine if there are causal relationships between assets and youth violence and, if found, the process by which youth acquire assets must also be explicated.