title: The Role of Peers in the Relation between Hurricane Exposure and Ataques de Nervios among Puerto Rican Adolescents.
abstract: Although a relation between disaster exposure and ataques de nervios (ataques) has been established in adult samples, little is known about this among youth, including factors that may moderate this relation. This study examined the role of the peer context in the relation between exposure to Hurricane Georges and experiencing a past year and lifetimeataquesamong a representative community sample of 905 youth (N = 476 boys and 429 girls; ages 11-18) residing in Puerto Rico. Data were gathered from 1999-2000 in Puerto Rico, 12-27 months following Hurricane Georges. Logistic regression analyses found that peer violence significantly predicted experiencing anataquein the past year. Hurricane exposure and peer violence were both significant predictors of a lifetime experience of anataque. An interaction was found between hurricane exposure and peer violence, indicating that hurricane exposure was significantly related to a lifetime experience of anataqueamong adolescents who do not report associating with violent peers. For participants reporting high levels of peer violence, hurricane exposure did not add additional risk for a lifetime experience of anataque. Understanding the influence of peers in the relation between hurricane exposure and experiencing anataquemay assist in planning developmentally and culturally sensitive response plans.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas.
authors.forename: Sonia L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Rubens
authors.affiliation: Gevirtz Graduate School of Education, University of California, Santa Barbara.
authors.forename: Erika D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Felix
authors.affiliation: Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas.
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Vernberg
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Sciences Research Institute, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus.
authors.forename: Glorisa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Canino
keywords: Ataques de Nervios; Hurricane Exposure; Peer Deviance; Social Support