NCJ Number
208601
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2001 Pages: 36-53
Date Published
January 2001
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study examined the prevalence and socioemotional consequences of community violence exposure in a sample of low-risk young adults.
Abstract
High rates of reported exposure to community violence among urban youth have led researchers to examine the consequences of such exposure on the psychosocial development of youth. The current study extends previous research findings by examining both the prevalence of community violence exposure and the related consequences in a sample of 476 male and female university students considered to be low-risk. Participants completed a self-report survey of lifetime exposure to community violence either as a victim or as a witness. Based on high and low reports of community violence exposure, 54 of the participants returned to complete self-report measures on depression, anxiety, and aggression. Results of statistical analyses indicated that 95.6 percent of the full sample reported witnessing and 82 percent reported being the victim of community violence. Another 81.6 percent and 44.8 percent reported exposure to at least three different types of community violence as a witness or a victim, respectively. Of the returning 54 participants, those who reported high levels of community violence exposure also reported significantly greater aggression and depression. The findings underscore the prevalence of community violence exposure even among low-risk populations and highlight the deleterious consequences that continue into young adulthood. Future research should continue to explore the deleterious outcomes of violence exposure among low-risk, and thus frequently ignored populations. Tables, notes, references