Are Chronic Exposure To Violence and Chronic Violent Behavior Closely Related Developmental Processes During Adolescence?

• NCJ Number: 232250
• Journal: Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 37 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2010 Pages: 1160-1179
• Author(s): Richard Spano; Craig Rivera; John M. Bolland
• Date Published: October 2010
• Length: 20 pages
• Contract Number(s): HD3000060
• Sponsoring Agency: University of Alabama; National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article explores the association between high rates of exposure to violence and adolescent violent behavior.

Abstract

Five waves of longitudinal data from a sample of minority youth living in extreme poverty were used to examine the impact of chronic exposure to violence on chronic violent behavior. Given the rapid rate of developmental change during adolescence and the lack of multiyear studies of exposure to violence, semiparametric group-based modeling was used to identify trajectories of chronic exposure to violence (7 percent of youth), chronic violent victimization (9 percent of youth), chronic vicarious victimization (39 percent of youth), and chronic violent behavior (12 percent of youth). The multivariate findings revealed that (a) youth with chronic exposure to violence were 3,150 percent (or 31.5 times) more likely to engage in chronic violent behavior and (b) chronic vicarious victimization was a significant predictor of chronic violent behavior, after controlling for the effects of chronic violent victimization. The theoretical and policy implications of these findings as well as areas for future research are discussed. Tables, figures, and references (Published Abstract)