Urban African American adolescents' perceptions of community violence.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate appraisal processes and coping strategies initiated by urban adolescents relative to violence exposure.


METHODS
Thirty-seven African American youth completed semistructured interviews, including assessment of means-ends problem-solving competence (MEPS).


RESULTS
Although perceptions of safety varied according to weapon-carrying/fighting status, staying locked inside one's home and maintaining a vigilance when dealing with others were identified as primary protective strategies. MEPS scores were not predictive of appraisal or coping processes. Youth were not expressive about emotional distress aroused by exposure.


CONCLUSIONS
Further examination of how appraisal and coping efforts relate to prevention of violence and its negative psychosocial sequelae is needed.
Howard
Donna E
DE
Department of Public and Community Health, University of Maryland, College Park 20742, USA. dhoward192@umail.umd.edu
Kaljee
Linda
L
Jackson
Lawanda
L
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D015142:Baltimore; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D011340:Problem Solving; D012938:Social Perception; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*