Relations of Delinquency to Direct and Indirect Violence Exposure Among Economically Disadvantaged,Ethnic-Minority Mid-Adolescents

Abstract

Exposure to violence remains a pervasive public health problem for adolescents in the United States. This cross-sectional study examined relations between exposure to violence in three different contexts (home, school, community) and delinquent behavior, using data from 233 11th graders (predominantly economically disadvantaged Hispanic and African American students). Analyses examined the effects of victimization and witnessing violence in each context and those of cumulative violence exposure across contexts on the outcome, controlling for other risk factors. Victimization and witnessing violence at home significantly predicted delinquency. However, violence exposure in school and neighborhood was unrelated to delinquency. Victimization was marginally more predictive than witnessing violence. Mild support for a nonlinear desensitization effect of cumulative violence exposure was found for delinquency.

Keywords

victimization witnessing violence delinquent behavior mid-adolescents

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