The Relative Contribution of Patterns of Exposure to Community Violence in Predicting Aggressive Behaviours and Fear Among a Sample of Children in The Age (4-5 Years)

This study aims to identify the relative contribution of patterns of exposure to community violence in predicting aggressive behavior and fear among a sample of children in the age (4-5) years, on a sample of (200) children from the Riyadh kindergarten, including (94) males and females. (106) Female The researchers used the scale of exposure to community violence, the modified version prepared by Fox, & Leavitt (1995). To measure the level of exposure to violence and the scale of aggression and anxiety derived from the list of behavioral problems for children. The results indicated a high level of exposure to community violence among children, and there were differences between males and females in the level of exposure to community violence, and a significant relationship was found between exposure to community violence, aggressive behavior and anxiety, and exposure to community violence as a victim predicted at a significance level (0.01) of aggressive behavior and fear. Both the total degree and exposure to violence as a witness do not predict aggressive behavior and fear, and therefore it can be said that the greatest contribution to influencing aggression and fear in children comes from exposure to violence as a victim.

Individual and environmental correlates of childhood maltreatment and exposure to community violence: Utilizing a latent profile and a multilevel meta-analytic approach

Background Childhood maltreatment (CM) and exposure to community violence (ETV) are correlated with physical/mental health and psychosocial problems. Typically, CM and ETV are examined separately, by subtypes within category, or collapsed across both into one category of adversity. Consequently, research is limited in identifying subgroups of individuals with different amounts of exposure to both CM and ETV. Accordingly, we lack sufficient understanding of the extent to which problems associated with CM and ETV vary based on the amount (i.e. dose) of exposure to both of these experiences. Methods We used 20 samples (28,300 individuals) to estimate person-centered profiles of CM and ETV occurrence and co-occurrence within each sample. An individual data multilevel meta-analytic framework was used to determine the average effect size across samples for different profiles and conditional probability correlations within sociodemographic, neighborhood, health, mental health, and psychosocial domains. Results The profile characterized by high levels of CM and high levels of ETV correlated with stressful life events, depression and anxiety symptoms, and general indicators of externalizing behaviors. CM predominant profiles were associated with mental health diagnoses and treatment. ETV predominant profiles associated with risk-taking/violent behavior and neighborhood-level disadvantage. However, nuance based on the dose of CM or ETV was evident. Conclusions It is important to identify subgroups based on the amount of exposure to CM and ETV. These subgroups have differential relationships with correlates across domains. Greater delineation and description of the lived experience will allow for more precision in addressing the burden of childhood adversity.

Reciprocal Relationships Between Exposure to Community Violence and Sleep Problems Across Adolescence

Urban adolescents experience high rates of exposure to community violence, which is associated with sleep problems. However, less is known about the prospective relationships between community violence exposure and sleep problems across adolescence. This study investigated reciprocal relationships between community violence exposure and sleep problems across early, middle, and late adolescence. Participants included 84 urban adolescents (50% females, 95% African Americans) who reported on their community violence exposure and sleep problems at mean ages 13, 16, and 17. Results from an autoregressive latent trajectory model with structured residuals showed that exposure to community violence at age 13 predicted more sleep problems at age 16, but violence exposure at age 16 did not predict sleep problems at age 17. Sleep problems did not predict community violence exposure over time. These results point to early adolescence as a vulnerable period for the development of sleep problems in youth exposed to community violence.