Latent Affective Dynamics in Youth Violence: Developmental Trajectories, Risk Assessment, and Interventions

Youth violence is a complex psychosocial phenomenon influenced by affective and latent factors that develop across childhood and adolescence. Understanding developmental trajectories is essential to identify risk and protective factors shaping violent behaviors. Social, contextual, relational, and psychological determinants interact in the emergence of violence among young people up to 26 years old. Effective responses require multidisciplinary support systems that address the needs of both victims and perpetrators, including mental health care, psychological treatment, and psychosocial rehabilitation. Community involvement plays a crucial role through prevention, early detection of behavioral risks, and targeted interventions. Research that strengthens the link between risk knowledge and intervention design, implementation, and real-world service delivery is especially valuable for improving outcomes.The objective of this Research Topic is to foster dialogue among scholars—both academics and practitioners—on latent affective dynamics in youth violence. This Research Topic will feature empirical studies, analyses of advances in the scientific literature, and case studies that may guide researchers and professionals in the assessment, treatment, and early detection of violent behaviors within an advanced and empirically grounded framework. The added value lies in integrating perspectives that have largely focused on individual and personality-related factors with reflection on contextual, community, and psychosocial influences, including how these factors shape individual and institutional services (mental health services, correctional treatment services, community services) and prevention pathways.This Research Topic welcomes contributions focused on violence—particularly its affective and latent components—among young populations (up to 26 years of age), including:• youth violence as a psychosocial phenomenon;• identification of risk and protective factors associated with violent behaviors, including social, contextual, relational, and psychological determinants;• multidisciplinary support services for both victims and perpetrators of violent behaviors, such as mental health services, psychological treatments, and psychosocial rehabilitation;• community support in managing the risk of youth violence, including prevention, early detection of risk factors, and community-based interventions, with clear implications for service delivery and practice.Contributions from empirical studies, case studies, meta-analyses, or literature reviews are welcome.Submissions centered on general externalizing behavior (e.g., aggression or conduct-related symptoms) are within scope only when they explicitly address violent behavior outcomes and/or are framed within violence risk assessment or targeted intervention pathways. Submissions on bullying/cybervictimization are welcome only when they are explicitly linked to violent behavior outcomes via latent/affective processes and/or examined within violence risk assessment or targeted intervention frameworks; otherwise, school-climate or peer-ecology studies without clear links to violent behavior are outside the scope of this Research Topic.We welcome the following article types: Original Research; Review; Systematic Review; Mini Review; Brief Research Report; Hypothesis & Theory; Perspective; Policy & Practice Reviews; Case Report. Topic editors: Viviana Langher, Manuela Tomai, Katrin Luise Laezer Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79958/latent-affective-dynamics-in-youth-violence-developmental-trajectories-risk-assessment-and-interventions