Violence, coping, and mental health in a community sample of adolescents

Community Violence Exposure and Adolescent Pregnancy in Chicago

This study examined the association between community violence exposure (CVE), sex without contraception, and adolescent pregnancy in Chicago. A self-administered, online survey was conducted among 15- to 19-year-old girls from the South and West sides of Chicago from October to March 2018. Participants were recruited via community organization partnerships and social media advertising. The survey included questions about CVE, sexual behaviors, and covariates that are known to contribute to sexual risk taking. CVE was measured via a validated index of seven questions that measured individual experiences with violence. Multivariable and logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the association between CVE, penile-vaginal intercourse without contraception, and ever being pregnant. The final sample included 644 girls. Levels of CVE were high: 62.87% of girls reported that a close friend or relative died because of violence and 41.60% were a victim of violence. Nearly half (48.69%) of girls had penile-vaginal intercourse and 6.01% had been pregnant. For each standard deviation increase in CVE score, the odds of penile-vaginal intercourse without contraception (odds ratio [OR] = 1.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.27, 2.25]) and the odds of ever being pregnant (OR = 1.87, 95% CI = [1.36, 2.57]) increased. These results remained significant when adjusting for demographic, psychosocial, institutional, and interpersonal factors. Findings suggest that girls in Chicago who are exposed to higher levels of community violence have an increased likelihood of experiencing penile-vaginal intercourse without contraception and teenage pregnancy, even when adjusting for other predictors to teenage pregnancy.

Parent-Adolescent Dyads' Efficacy, Coping, Depression, and Adolescent Health Risks

BACKGROUND

Efficacy beliefs have been suggested to protect children from many risky health behaviors. However, the relationships between parent-child dyads' coping and efficacy beliefs are not clear. Therefore, this study examined the relationships between parent-child dyads' coping patterns and their association with collective family efficacy, adolescent filial efficacy, parenting efficacy, family satisfaction, depressive symptoms, and parents' perceived adolescent health risks.

METHODS

Guided by the Bandura's efficacy framework, we surveyed 158 parent-adolescent dyads from the midwestern U.S. on coping, collective family efficacy, adolescent filial efficacy, family satisfaction, parenting efficacy, depressive symptoms, and parent perceived adolescent health risks. Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, multiple regression, and path modeling were performed.

FINDINGS

Parent-adolescent dyads spiritual coping was positively correlated, but other coping subscales were not. The path models revealed that adolescents collective family and filial efficacy were positively related to their overall coping. Adolescent family satisfaction both directly and indirectly protected adolescents from depressive symptoms. Parents' parenting efficacy and family satisfaction were directly and indirectly associated with lower parents' perceived adolescent health risks.

DISCUSSION

It seems that parents' constructive coping mechanisms were more collective-focused, while adolescents' coping strategies were more individual-focused (venting and humor). Promoting parent-adolescent dyads' efficacy beliefs could enhance their coping strategies and minimize depressive symptoms and adolescent health risks. APPLICATION TO PRACTICE: adolescents' collective coping mechanisms (self-reliance and family problem solving) can be promoted within the family context. In fact, when helping adolescents develop family problem solving skills, it is important to consider parents' ability/efficacy and their emotional status.

Trauma, Race, and Risk for Violent Felony Arrests Among Florida Juvenile Offenders

This study tests the assumptions of the The Childhood Trauma Model, which proposes that marginalized populations are both more likely to have traumatic childhoods and more criminalized than those in the upper echelons of society. It hypothesizes that traumatic childhood experiences increase risk of being sanctioned for violent behavior, and risks are amplified for minority and disadvantaged groups. The study finds that experiencing three or more traumas had a 200% to 370% increased chance of being arrested for a violent felony as youth who experienced a single traumatic event, and Blacks had up to 300% increased risk than Whites with equal trauma scores.

Coping, emotion regulation, and psychopathology in childhood and adolescence: A meta-analysis and narrative review

In this meta-analytic and narrative review, we examine several overarching issues related to the study of coping, emotion regulation, and internalizing and externalizing symptoms of psychopathology in childhood and adolescence, including the conceptualization and measurement of these constructs. We report a quantitative meta-analysis of 212 studies (N = 80,850 participants) that measured the associations between coping and emotion regulation with symptoms of internalizing and externalizing psychopathology. Within the meta-analysis we address the association of broad domains of coping and emotion regulation (e.g., total coping, emotion regulation), intermediate factors of coping and emotion regulation (e.g., primary control coping, secondary control coping), and specific coping and emotion regulation strategies (e.g., emotional expression, cognitive reappraisal) with internalizing and externalizing symptoms. For cross-sectional studies, which made up the majority of studies included, we examine 3 potential moderators: age, measure quality, and single versus multiple informants. Finally, we separately consider findings from longitudinal studies as these provide stronger tests of the effects. After accounting for publication bias, findings indicate that the broad domain of emotion regulation and adaptive coping and the factors of primary control coping and secondary control coping are related to lower levels of symptoms of psychopathology. Further, the domain of maladaptive coping, the factor of disengagement coping, and the strategies of emotional suppression, avoidance, and denial are related to higher levels of symptoms of psychopathology. Finally, we offer a critique of the current state of the field and outline an agenda for future research. (PsycINFO Database Record

Psychosocial correlates of alcohol and other substance use among low-income adolescents in peri-urban Johannesburg, South Africa: A focus on gender differences

Alcohol and other drug use is prevalent among peri-urban, South African adolescents. We identified correlates of alcohol and other drug use by gender among adolescents (age = 16-18 years; N = 822) in peri-urban Johannesburg. Interviewer-administered surveys assessed sexual activity, alcohol and other drug use, and relevant psychosocial factors. In separate logistic regression models of alcohol and other drug use stratified by gender, violence exposure and sexual activity were associated with alcohol use for both males and females. For females only, depressive symptoms were associated with drug use. For males only, being older and sexually active were associated with drug use. Substance use interventions for South African adolescents should consider psychological health, sexual health, and tailoring by gender.

Psychosocial correlates of alcohol and other substance use among low-income adolescents in peri-urban Johannesburg, South Africa: A focus on gender differences

Alcohol and other drug use is prevalent among peri-urban, South African adolescents. We identified correlates of alcohol and other drug use by gender among adolescents (age = 16-18 years; N = 822) in peri-urban Johannesburg. Interviewer-administered surveys assessed sexual activity, alcohol and other drug use, and relevant psychosocial factors. In separate logistic regression models of alcohol and other drug use stratified by gender, violence exposure and sexual activity were associated with alcohol use for both males and females. For females only, depressive symptoms were associated with drug use. For males only, being older and sexually active were associated with drug use. Substance use interventions for South African adolescents should consider psychological health, sexual health, and tailoring by gender.

Social Problem Solving and Aggression: The Role of Depression

The purpose of the present study was to examine direct and indirect relations among social problem-solving, depression, and aggression, as well as the mediating role of depression in the link between social problem-solving and aggression among Turkish youth. Data for the present study were collected from 413 adolescents. The participants’ age ranged from 14 to 17 with a mean of 15.74 years (SD = .97). Results indicated that social problem-solving was significantly and negatively associated with both depression and aggression. Also, depression significantly and positively associated with aggression and depression appears to act as a mediator in the relationship between social problem-solving and aggression. Findings suggest that social problem-solving and depression are important factors in understanding aggression among Turkish youth.

Moving beyond the trait conceptualization of self-esteem: the prospective effect of impulsiveness, coping, and risky behavior engagement

Past research has largely focused on examining self-esteem as an independent as opposed to a dependent variable. At the same time, research suggests that during adolescence, self-esteem is subject to yearly, monthly, as well as daily change, and consequently, it is important to identify underlying vulnerability factors and behaviors, which shape self-esteem lability. In the current multi-wave, longitudinal study, 142 adolescents between the ages of 12-18 completed monthly assessments across 4 months. At the initial assessment, adolescents provided self-report data pertaining to impulsiveness, maladaptive coping, risky behavior engagement, and self-esteem. At each of the follow-up assessments, adolescents provided information about risky behavior engagement and self-esteem. Results of time-lagged, idiographic multilevel mediation analyzes indicated that risky behavior engagement mediated the relationship between impulsiveness/maladaptive coping and subsequent low self-esteem. Critically, when included in the same model, impulsiveness was significant above and beyond maladaptive coping. Additionally, the reverse model with self-esteem as the predictor and risky behavior included as the dependent variable was not significant suggesting that our effect was unidirectional. As a whole, these findings suggest that impulsive youth may engage in behaviors, which ultimately precipitate negative self-evaluations and transient declines in self-esteem.

Die Bedeutung von Wohlbefinden im Zusammenhang zwischen Sportengagement und Gewaltverhalten bei Jugendlichen

Zusammenfassung. Obschon normative Erwartungen an Sport als Freizeitbeschäftigung mit gewaltpräventiver Wirkung immer wieder postuliert werden, sind empirische Befunde zum Zusammenhang zwischen Sport und Gewalt inkonsistent. Einhellig werden jedoch positive Auswirkungen des Sporttreibens auf das Wohlbefinden berichtet, ebenso wie negative Assoziationen zwischen Wohlbefinden und Gewaltverhalten. Vor einem sozialisations- und stresstheoretischen Hintergrund wird in der vorliegenden querschnittlichen Befragung von 1664 Schweizer Jugendlichen im Alter von 12 bis 18 Jahren die Annahme geprüft, ob ein indirekter Zusammenhang zwischen Sportengagement und Gewaltverhalten besteht, der durch das Wohlbefinden vermittelt wird. Die mit Strukturgleichungsmodellen gewonnenen Ergebnisse liefern schwache Unterstützung für diese Annahme. Allerdings sind die Pfadkoeffizienten klein (Sport – Wohlbefinden: β = .39; Wohlbefinden – Gewaltverhalten: β = −.13) und der indirekte Effekt entsprechend gering (−.05). Es wird gefolgert, dass Sportangebote für Jugendliche deren Bedürfnisse nach Autonomie, Kompetenz und sozialem Anschluss befriedigen müssen, um Wohlbefinden zu erhalten bzw. zu fördern, welches wiederum als Ressource gegen deviantes Verhalten dienen kann.

The relationship between community violence exposure and mental health symptoms in urban adolescents

Urban adolescents are exposed to a substantial amount of community violence which has the potential to influence psychological functioning. To examine the relationship between community violence exposure and mental health symptoms in urban adolescents, a literature review using MEDLINE, CINAHL, PubMed, PsycINFO, CSA Social Services and CSA Sociological Abstracts was conducted. Search terms included adolescent/adolescence, violence, urban, mental health, well-being, emotional distress, depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder and aggression. Twenty-six empirical research articles from 1997 to 2007 met inclusion criteria for review. Findings indicate an influence of community violence exposure on mental health symptoms, particularly posttraumatic stress and aggression. Mediators and moderators for community violence exposure and mental health symptoms help explain relationships. Limitations in the literature are the lack of consistency in measurement and analysis of community violence exposure, including assessment of proximity and time frame of exposure, and in analysis of victimization and witnessing of community violence. Knowledge about identification of urban adolescents exposed to chronic community violence and who experience mental health symptoms is critical to mental health nursing practice and research.

Community violence exposure, threat appraisal, and adjustment in adolescents

Validity data are presented for a new measure of threat appraisals in response to community violence. Adolescents (N = 358; 45% male; 91% African American, M = 12.10 years, SD = 1.63) and their maternal caregivers participated in two waves of a longitudinal interview study focused on the consequences of exposure to community violence. Structural equation modeling revealed that a six-factor correlated model best fit the data, indicating that the six subscales of the threat appraisal measure represent distinct but related constructs. The factor structure was invariant across age and gender. Exposure to violence was associated prospectively with caregiver- and adolescent-rated adjustment problems. Each of the six threat appraisals mediated links between exposure to violence at Wave 1 and adolescent-rated internalizing adjustment problems 1 year later.

Psychiatric and physical health ramifications of traumatic events in women

All individuals are at some risk of experiencing a traumatic event and developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however some individuals are at higher risk due to individual and environmental factors. This critical literature review focuses on women, as they are twice as likely as men to develop PTSD in their lifetimes. Should a woman develop PTSD, she is then at risk of developing psychiatric and physical health comorbidities that can further impact her quality of life. The strengths and limitations of current studies regarding this topic are discussed as are directions for future research and issues for nurses treating traumatized individuals.

To tell or not to tell: lifestyle impacts on whether adolescents tell about violent victimization

Adolescent sexual and physical victimization is an issue of serious social concern in our society. This study examines the predictors of whether juveniles tell about these experiences. We specifically question whether the adolescents' lifestyles inhibit victims from telling anyone about the assault and determine if such predictors vary by sex. Using data from the National Survey of Adolescents, we find that the victims' lifestyles do predict help-seeking but that the importance of these measures varies by the type of victimization and the sex of the adolescent. Lifestyles influence reporting the event more consistently for victims of sexual assaults than physical assaults. In addition, while several lifestyle measures are significant for sexually victimized girls, the context of the event is more important for boys who are sexually victimized. Aspects of the adolescents' lifestyles are not as important for telling about physical victimization.