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Posttraumatic Stress, Family Functioning, and Externalizing in Adolescents Exposed to Violence: A Moderated Mediation Model.
- Source :
- Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology; 2018 Supplement, Vol. 47, pS176-S189, 14p
- Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- Exposure to community violence disproportionately impacts low-income, minority youth and is associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms and maladaptive adjustment. This study investigates whether posttraumatic stress mediates the relation between exposure to community violence and externalizing symptoms and the moderating role of family cohesion and daily family support in buffering these effects on later externalizing. Low-income, African American 7th-grade students (M age = 12.57 years; N = 254) from high-crime neighborhoods participated in a 2-year longitudinal study measuring the effects of community violence exposure. The students completed questionnaires administered by research staff over 5 consecutive days for each year of the study. Family cohesion and daily family support exhibited a significant buffering effect for several outcomes. Posttraumatic stress significantly mediated the effect of witnessing community violence on subsequent aggression. The strength of these indirect effects depended on level of family cohesion. The findings provide evidence in support of interventions provided at both individual and family levels. Mental health providers working with this population should be aware of the intertwined nature of exposure to community violence, posttraumatic stress, and subsequent maladaptive outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 15374416
- Volume :
- 47
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 133674806
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2016.1197836