Maternal depression and adolescent behavior problems: an examination of mediation among immigrant Latino mothers and their adolescent children exposed to community violence.
This study examines the psychological and behavioral effects of exposure to community violence of 47 Latino mothers and their young adolescent children. Using data gathered from multiple sources, this study tests the associations between lifetime exposure to community violence, maternal depression, and child behavior problems. More than 80% of the youngsters ranging from age 11 to 14 years and 68% of the mothers reported being exposed to at least one act of community violence either as a victim or as a witness. Analyses reveal that maternal depression is a mediator of child behavior problems, reducing the direct effect of community violence exposure by more than 50%. Findings suggest that maternal depression is a factor more important than child's community violence exposure in contributing to young adolescents' behavioral problems.
Aisenberg
Eugene
E
School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105-6299, USA. ginoa@u.washington.edu
Trickett
Penelope K
PK
Mennen
Ferol E
FE
Saltzman
William
W
Zayas
Luis H
LH
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D000328:Adult; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000208:ethnology*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017008:Negotiating; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*