Anger Mediates the Relation Between Violence Exposure and Violence Perpetration in Incarcerated Boys

Abstract

Youth who are exposed to violence are more likely to perpetrate violence. Incarcerated youth are a special population that is at a significantly greater risk for violent offending because of their relatively greater rates of violence exposure. Two important outcomes of violence exposure that may help explain its link with violence perpetration are posttraumatic stress disorder and problematic anger. The primary aim of the current study is to examine whether these important risk factors mediate the relation between two types of violence exposure (i.e., witnessing and victimization) and various types of violence perpetration in a sample of 373 incarcerated male adolescent offenders. A second aim is to test whether another well-established correlate of violence in youth, callous-unemotional (CU) traits (lack of empathy, guilt), adds unique variance beyond violence exposure, anger, and PTSD symptomatology. Findings suggest that anger is a robust predictor of violence and appears to at least partially act as the mechanism through which violence exposure is linked with violence perpetration. CU traits also contribute unique variance, beyond the significant effect of anger, to the statistical prediction of community, but not institutional, violence.

Elucidating the Complex Associations between Psychopathy and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from the Perspective of Trait Negative Affectivity

“…Despite a plethora of research supporting a positive relationship between psychopathy and trauma history (e.g., Cima, Smeets, & Jelicic, 2008;Kimonis, Ray, Branch, & Cauffman, 2011;Weiler & Widom, 1996), its association with PTSD has been relatively understudied. Research has established a weak to moderate association between PTSD and global psychopathy (Blackburn, Logan, Donnelly, & Renwick, 2003;Blonigen, Sullivan, Hicks, & Patrick, 2012;Kubak & Salekin, 2009).…”

Community violence exposure and callous–unemotional traits in adolescents: Testing parental support as a promotive versus protective factor

“…Youth who are regularly exposed to community violence are more prone to become aggressive and have more cognitive deficits, limiting their ability to cope positively (Kimonis, Ray, Branch, & Cauffman, 2011). Further, researchers have found that lower socioeconomic status is associated with higher levels of CU traits in youth (Sadeh et al, 2010).…”

“…For example, males tend to be more physically violent, whereas females tend to internalize problems more (Webster-Stratton, 1996). In addition to potential biological influences on CU traits, community violence affects males and females differently and possibly moderates the development of these traits (Kimonis et al, 2011). Females are more likely to develop anxiety and depression as a result of exposure to violence, while males show more distress when victimized violently compared with witnessing violence (Foster, Kuperminc, & Price, 2004).…”

Trauma History and PTSD Symptoms in Juvenile Offenders on Probation

“…Delinquent youths are likely to come from impoverished homes and neighborhoods (Garbarino & Plantz, 1986a, 1986b; Loeber & Stouthamer-Loeber, 1986; Rodriguez, 2011), and these communities bear the largest impact of violence exposure (Berman, Silverman, & Kurtines, 2002; Gibson, Morris & Beaver, 2009; Osofsky, 1999). Involvement in delinquent activity, moreover, is likely to expose youths to community violence and victimization (Kimonis, Ray, Branch, & Cauffman, 2011; Shaffer & Ruback, 2002). In addition, a number of prospective longitudinal studies have now found that history of trauma and violence exposure increases risk for delinquent behavior in both adolescence and adulthood (Kirk & Hardy, 2012; Maxfield & Widom, 1996; Stouthamer-Loeber, Loeber, Homish, & Wei, 2001; Thornberry, Ireland, & Smith, 2001).…”