Exposure to physical violence is an unfortunate reality for many Canadian youth as it is associated with numerous negative psychosocial effects. The study aims to assist in understanding resilience in rural Canadian youth exposed to physical violence. This is accomplished by identifying the importance of protective factors, as measured by the Resiliency Scale for Children and Adolescents (RSCA), and physical violence exposure, when used together, in predicting disruptive behavior, depression, and posttraumatic stress. Results indicate positive emotional reactivity is more important in protecting youth from developing psychological symptoms than sense of mastery and sense of relatedness. Differences between the effect of hearing reports, witnessing, and being victim to violence as well as differences between male and female youth were found. The study adds to the research on physical violence exposure, protective factors, and internalizing/externalizing problems in rural youth, with implications for implementing school-based programs.
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