Community Violence Exposure and Risk Taking Behaviors Among Black Emerging Adults: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Black emerging adults ages 18–29, particularly those residing in predominantly black urban communities, are at risk for community violence exposure (CVE). This potentially traumatic event may induce traumatic stress reactions for black emerging adults that contribute to their engagement in violence perpetration, substance use and/or sexual risk-taking behaviors as a way to cope with their experiences. To address these identified concerns and make recommendations for future research, this article identifies and synthesizes results from studies that have examined CVE and its association with violence perpetration, substance use, and sexual risk-taking behaviors among black emerging adults. We use the term “black” throughout the article to refer to a socially constructed racial group or identity and recognize that this group, like all other racial groups in the United States, are ethnically heterogeneous. A systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify studies that (1) included a measure of CVE (2) included a measure of violence perpetration, substance use, or sexual risk-taking behaviors, and (3) included primarily black emerging adults. Results showed CVE rates as high as 83% for black emerging adults. CVE was significantly associated with substance use, but findings on the association of CVE with violence perpetration and sexual risk-taking behaviors were mixed. Also, there was a lack of consistency in measures used to assess CVE, suggesting that future research should seek to identify “gold standard” measures and consider whether they have been examined with black emerging adults or similar populations and whether they capture the experiences of this unique population. Furthermore, studies investigating factors that might moderate and/or mediate the relationship between CVE, violence perpetration, substance use, and sexual risk-taking behaviors among black emerging adults are warranted.

The Longitudinal Association Between Exposure to Violence and Patterns of Health Risk Behaviors Among African American Youth

“…Our findings extend existing research about the clustering of health risk behaviors 3,11 and indicate the importance of examining socio-environmental factors when addressing health risk behaviors among African Americans. 27 A prior cross-sectional study showed that neighborhood cohesion, instead of individual-level demographic correlates, is a crucial predictive factor for African Americans engaging in multiple health behaviors. 8 Our findings of ETV adds to such evidence with longitudinal data that violence in the neighborhood and other social environments may play an important role in shaping various health risk behaviors later in life among African Americans.…”

“…Due to the increased risk of maladjusted health behaviors from ETV, 27 including those examined in the current study, health promotion professionals must be mindful of the presence and consequences of ETV when developing and implementing chronic disease prevention and control programs in areas where community violence is a problem. Individuals who have experienced high levels of ETV may have difficulties with coping, social support, and access to resources to be physically active, eat right, and avoid harmful substance use.…”

“…While most research focused on the relationship between childhood adversity and chronic disease risk factors in adulthood, 15,25,26 researchers have demonstrated that adolescents and emerging adults continue to be vulnerable to the negative consequences of ETV as adults. 27 ETV during the formative years of adolescence and emerging adulthood increases mental distress and disruption of social relationships, 13 and increases maladaptive coping behaviors, including substance use. 27 Thus, cumulative ETV can be viewed as a significant chronic stressor that has long-lasting detrimental effects on individuals’ psychosocial, behavioral, and physical outcomes.…”

“…27 ETV during the formative years of adolescence and emerging adulthood increases mental distress and disruption of social relationships, 13 and increases maladaptive coping behaviors, including substance use. 27 Thus, cumulative ETV can be viewed as a significant chronic stressor that has long-lasting detrimental effects on individuals’ psychosocial, behavioral, and physical outcomes.…”

The relationship between social class and health: Their "social-psychological-physiological" mechanism

“…成员的健康, 并且一系列研究指出它是导致不同阶 层之间健康差距的社会机制 [49,50] . 更多的暴力接触 与更严重的哮喘症状有关, 也与更大风险的心血管 疾病有关; 遭受暴力也与身体健康状况较差、残疾程 度高、慢性疼痛密切相关 [51,52] . 通过统计控制了个体 所经历的暴力事件后, 社会阶层与自我报告的健康 状况之间相关度降低 [53] .…”