Understanding Vietnamese youth gangs in America: An ecological systems analysis

This article analyzes the problem of Vietnamese American youth gangs using Bronfenbrenner's ecological model. I first present a brief historical overview of Vietnamese migration to America, which is followed by examining risk factors that operate within five system levels: the micro-, meso-, exo-, macro-, and chrono-systems. Theories that explain relationships between the risk factors and gang involvement also are included. Finally, I draw implications for assessment, prevention, and intervention strategies at each systems level.