Citation

Barr SC, Hanson R, Begle AM, Kilpatrick DG, Saunders BE, Resnick HS, Amstadter AB. J. Interpers. Violence 2012; 27(2): 239-262.

Affiliation

Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0886260511416477

PMID

21920873

Abstract

Witnessed community violence has been linked to a number of internalizing and externalizing problems in adolescents. Guided by Cicchetti and Lynch's (1993) ecological-transactional model, this study aimed to examine the impact that family-level factors had on negative outcomes associated with witnessed community violence. Using a nationally representative sample, we explored the moderational role of family cohesion in the relationship between witnessing community violence and delinquent behavior while taking demographic variables into account. Results from the investigation suggested that low levels of family cohesion were predictive of delinquency after controlling for race, gender, past delinquency, and direct trauma. In addition, the findings suggested that family cohesion moderated the impact of witnessed community violence on future delinquent behavior. Future directions for research and implications for practice were also discussed.

Language: en