Outcome of exposure to community violence in female adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to describe outcomes related to exposure to community violence in 2 samples of female adolescents.


METHODS
The design was cross-sectional.


METHODS
Data were collected by home visit and on a college campus.


METHODS
The female adolescents were recruited from a teen clinic (n=39) and from freshman orientation classes at a large urban university (n=61).


METHODS
Depressive symptoms.


RESULTS
Although the 2 groups differed by age, race, and socioeconomic status, there were no differences in social support, depressive symptoms, or being a victim of violence. Adolescents recruited from the teen clinic had higher scores on witnessing violence and were exposed to more aggressive acts of violence.


CONCLUSIONS
Exposure to community violence is a significant predictor of depressive symptoms in both college students and adolescents from a teen clinic.
Hertweck
S P
SP
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Women's Health, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, USA. phertweck@louisville.edu
Ziegler
C H
CH
Logsdon
M C
MC
D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012931:Social Environment; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*