Citation

Ludwig KA, Warren JS. Psychol. Sch. 2009; 46(10): 1061-1073.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/pits.20444

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study examined the relationship of two putative school-based protective factors—student identification with school and perceived teacher support—to psychosocial outcomes in a sample of urban youth exposed to community violence. Participants were 175 high school students ages 14–19 in grades 9–12 from a large urban school district. Results indicated that exposure to violence was positively associated with internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Additionally, identification with school and teacher support were related to higher hope and lower psychosocial distress. Adolescents who reported higher identification with school and higher teacher support reported higher hope, regardless of the level of violence exposure. Results emphasize the importance of school factors, particularly feeling connected to and supported in school, in promoting hope and minimizing psychosocial distress for youth exposed to community violence. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.