Introduction: Studies have shown the adverse impact of exposure to community violence on adolescent health. However, most of the studies were conducted in high-income countries. This study aimed at assessing the community violence exposure and the determinants of mental health problems among adolescents in Ambon, a post-conflict area in Indonesia. Material and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, school-based study involving 511 of 10th-graders from six randomly selected high schools in Kotamadya Ambon. Our participants were assessed using a set of questionnaires including the Strength Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to measure mental health problems, and the child version of the Screen for Adolescent Violence Exposure (KID-SAVE) to measure community violence exposure. The hierarchical regression analyses were used to explore the determinants of mental health problems. Results: In this study, boys reported more exposure to community violence (both in frequency and severity) than girls. Meanwhile, the girls reported higher emotional problems than boys. The hierarchical regression analyses revealed that in the total sample and among boys, the community violence exposure was associated with mental health problems. However, it was the perceived impact of community violence exposure which showed an association with mental health problems among girls. Conclusions: This study revealed the high community violence exposure among adolescents living in a post-conflict setting in Indonesia. The study also found gender differences in the determinants of mental health problems among adolescents who were exposed to CVE.

IntroductionAdolescent violence is a public health problem worldwide. Studies show that challenging environments, such as poverty and war, increase the risk of adolescent violence. This paper aims to assess gender differences in violent behaviors among adolescents in a post‐conflict area in Indonesia. The other aim of this study is to investigate the correlates of adolescents' violent behaviors using the socio‐ecological framework.MethodsThis is a school‐based study involving 511 students from six randomly selected high schools in Kotamadya Ambon. Active and verbal violent behaviors and the potential correlates were measured and assessed using backward linear regression analyses.ResultsBoys were involved in more violent behaviors than girls. However, some of the boys and girls reported being involved in all types of violent behaviors. The most significant correlates of violent behaviors across genders were community violence exposure and some types of behavioral problems.DiscussionThis study highlighted the interconnectedness between community violence exposure and violent behaviors among adolescents living in a post‐conflict area. The study also emphasizes the association between problem behaviors and violent behaviors. The results demonstrate the importance of both reducing community violence exposure and identifying adolescents with behavioral problems in the prevention of violent behaviors.

Tobacco use among youth in the South-East Asian region is quite prevalent. This study aims to examine if psychosocial factors (perceived loneliness, peer, and parental relationships) were associated with adolescent smoking, and whether the effects were different according to sex and age. Data came from the Global School-based Student Health Surveys collected between 2012 and 2015 in Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. 64 578 (males = 48.5%) adolescents aged 13-18 completed the survey. Prevalence of past-month cigarette use was 10.6%. Adolescent smoking was associated with loneliness (OR = 1.75, 95% CI [1.74, 1.75]), lack of close friends (OR = 1.43, 95% CI [1.42, 1.43]), and lack of parental understanding (OR = 1.35, 95% CI [1.34, 1.35]). There was significant interactions between sex with loneliness, close friends, and parental understanding ( p < .001). Interactions indicated having no close friends is associated with smoking and is stronger for females than males. Conversely, loneliness was associated with smoking more strongly in males than females. Results indicate that psychosocial factors are linked to adolescent smoking in South-East Asia, suggesting a further need for research on the relation of psychosocial factors with smoking, and their underlying factors.

Penelitian Taylor dan Weems (2009) menunjukkan perpisahan dan kehilangan orang tua merupakansalah satu peristiwa yang memberikan efek trauma bagi remaja. Efek trauma ini dapat menimbulkanreaksi stres pasca trauma yang berbeda-beda pada setiap remaja, mulai dari dampak yang ringanhingga berat. Penelitian ini bertujuan melihat efektivitas intervensi kelompok dengan RecoveryTechnique Modul yang dikembangkan oleh Smith, Dyregrov, dan Yule (1999) dalam mengatasi reaksistres pasca trauma pada remaja akhir yang mengalami perceraian orang tua. Metode penelitianintervensi dilakukan sebanyak lima sesi dengan melibatkan tiga remaja akhir yang mendapatkan skorlebih dari 17 dalam alat ukur CRIES-13. Efektivitas intervensi dilihat berdasarkan penurunan skorCRIES-13 serta hasil observasi dan wawancara dari masing-masing partisipan. Hasil penelitian padaakhir intervensi terjadi penurunan skor CRIES-13 pada masing-masing partisipan. Partisipan merasalebih nyaman dan tenang serta mampu mengurangi gejala-gejala reaksi stres pasca trauma yangmereka alami. Dapat disimpulkan Recovery Technique Modul efektif dalam mengatasi reaksi strespasca trauma yang dialami oleh remaja akhir yang mengalami perceraian orang tua. Teknik yangdianggap paling membantu adalah “tempat aman”, relaksasi otot, dan keterpaparan secara imajinatifmaupun in vivo. Teknik-teknik ini mengurangi intensitas reaksi stres pasca trauma yang dialami remajaakhir, terutama dalam mengurangi perilaku avoidance dan arousal.