Original article
The relationship among violence victimization, witnessing violence, and youth distress

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1054-139X(02)00404-4Get rights and content

Abstract

Purpose

To explore whether violence victimization and witness experiences of predominantly African-American, low-income, urban adolescents were associated with distress and whether psychosocial factors contributed to symptomatology.

Methods

Data for this study were obtained from a cross-sectional survey of 349 youth between the ages of 9 and 15 years who resided in any of 10 low-income public housing communities in an East Coast city. Survey instruments assessed exposure to violence, distress symptomatology, youth psychosocial functioning, and family dynamics. Data were analyzed by computing Pearson correlation coefficients and a series of multiple linear regression models.

Results

Witnessing violence was related to youth reports of intrusive thoughts and feelings, difficulties with concentration, and vigilant or avoidant behavior. Violence victimization was correlated with feelings of despondency about having either a happy or long life, as well as feelings of being unloved, uncared for, and afraid. Younger youth, boys, and active problem solvers were more likely to report intrusive thoughts. Problematic family communication was related to intrusive thoughts, distraction, feeling a lack of belonging, and expressions of emotional numbing.

Conclusions

The act of witnessing violence may be associated with a set of distinct symptoms. Youth who witness violence also need to be identified so they may be aided in dealing with their distress. Family communication, particularly problematic family communication, and problem solving also contribute to symptomatology.

Section snippets

Design

This study was a cross-sectional survey utilizing baseline data gathered from youth who were recruited to participate in a randomized, controlled, community-based violence prevention effectiveness trial. Participants were 349 adolescents, 96% of whom were African-American, between the ages of 9 and 15 years, who resided in any of 10 low-income public housing communities in an East Coast city. Recruitment and enrollment took place within each community after school on weekdays and during

Results

A total of 349 youth, 96% of whom were African-American, were identified for inclusion in the statistical analyses. Baseline measures were completed by 196 males and 153 females. Youth median age was 12 years; mean grade level and family size were about six and five, respectively. A more thorough discussion of this sample is presented elsewhere [27].

Analysis of variance was used to compare younger and older youth on a range of study variables. Younger adolescents were significantly more likely

Discussion

This article explored the relationship between exposure to community violence, specifically victimization and witness experiences, and distress symptomatology among a community sample of young African-Americans. The results suggest that increasing levels of environmental exposure to violence are associated with increasing amounts of self-reported distress. Several studies reported in the literature support this relationship 9, 20, 22. Pynoos et al. [20] and Pynoos and Nader [24] demonstrated a

Study limitations

In determining the validity and generalizability of study results, consideration must be given to how variables were operationalized. First, the psychometric properties of the exposure and distress scales have been incompletely determined 8, 22, 27. Second, items that concerned contextual qualities regarding the violent encounter, such as location and relationship to perpetrator or victim, were not examined. As a result, whether domestic or community violence is the more important factor in the

Conclusion

Owing to the pervasiveness of violence in many inner-city communities and its potential effects among children and adolescents, the consequences from such exposure is an important public health concern, deserving attention in the field of pediatric and adolescent research. Violence has not only direct consequences, by placing children in harm’s way, but also immediate and potentially long-term detrimental effects on the emotional and social development of children. Attention must be focused on

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the entire Neighborhoods in Action team without whose efforts this research would not have been possible. In particular, we thank the parents, youth, and public housing staff who participated in the Neighborhoods in Action project.

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    Support for this research was provided by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.

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