The association of ecological variables and psychological distress with exposure to community violence among adolescents.
Ecological theory suggests that exposure to community violence should be related to individual, family, and community characteristics; traumatic stress theory suggests that exposure to community violence should be related to level of psychological distress. A correlational study of 468 older adolescents in New York City tested these hypotheses. Exposure was found to be moderately related to level of psychological distress, but was not related to family or neighborhood characteristics. It was concluded that the nature of exposure to community violence poses difficulties for interventions aimed at either prevention or amelioration of effects.
Rosenthal
Beth Spenciner
BS
The Graduate Center, York College of The City University of New York, 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Boulevard, Jamaica, New York 11451, USA. Rosenthal@york.cuny.edu
Wilson
W Cody
WC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data