title: Exposure to community violence and protective and risky contexts among low income urban African American adolescents: a prospective study.
abstract: This study examined protective and risky companionship and locations for exposure to community violence among African American young adolescents living in high crime, urban areas. The Experience Sampling Method (ESM), an in vivo data collection method, was employed to gather information from 233 students (62% female) over 3 years, beginning in the 6th grade. Questionnaire variables of exposure to community violence were regressed onto ESM companionship and location variables, cross-sectionally and longitudinally, separately for boys and girls. At different points, time spent with parents, in school, and outside in private space was associated with less exposure to violence for boys and girls, while time spent with girls was protective for boys. In addition, time spent outside in public and with older peers was associated with increased risk for boys and girls. These findings are discussed in relation to previous and potential future research, and to strategies to prevent exposure to community violence.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, Loyola University of Chicago, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60626, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goldner
authors.forename: Tracy L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Maryse H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pearce
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012309:Risk-Taking; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014754:Violence / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control