Exposure to Violence in Adolescence and Precocious Role Exits

Abstract

Exposure to violence is a serious public health concern that compromises adolescents by affecting their behavior and psychological well-being. The current study advances knowledge about the consequences of exposure to violence in adolescence by applying a life course perspective to evaluate the developmental implications of adolescents' exposure to violence. In particular, drawing on a sample of 11,949 school-aged adolescents in the U.S., we examine whether exposure to violence in adolescence is associated with precocious role exits that some adolescents experience. Exposure to violence is conceptualized as including both direct (i.e., experiencing physical victimization) and indirect exposure (i.e., witnessing others' victimization). Three types of direct exposure to violence are examined: street, intimate partner, and family victimization, as well as four types of indirect exposure including: street, peer, and school violence as well as exposure to family/friend suicide. Using three waves of longitudinal data from the Add Health Study, we find that exposure to violence is associated with greater risks of running away from home, dropping out of high school, having a child, attempting suicide, and coming into contact with the criminal justice system in later adolescence. In addition, risks depend upon the relational context in which the exposure to violence occurred, risks increase with greater exposure to violence, and risks are, for the most part, highest for those youth exposed to both indirect and direct violence in adolescence.

Exposição de adolescentes à violência em diferentes contextos: relações com a saúde mental

“…Entretanto, nem sempre os contextos de desenvolvimento cumprem esse papel, como por exemplo, quando há exposição à violência. Pesquisas nacionais e internacionais vêm apontando altos índices de exposição a diversos tipos de violência entre os adolescentes que vivem em diferentes contextos (Braga & Dell'Aglio, 2012;Haynie, Petts, Maimon, & Piquero, 2009;Malta et al, 2010;Ministério da Saúde, 2011;Zavaschi, Benetti, Polanczyk, Soles, & Sanchotene, 2002) sendo que a vitimização nessa faixa etária é maior se comparada com crianças e adultos. Dados do Mapa de violência do Brasil (Waiselfi sz, 2012) revelam que as mortes de crianças e adolescentes por causas externas (acidentes e violência, geralmente homicídios) têm aumentado se comparadas com as mortes por causas naturais (doenças, por exemplo) que diminuíram de 1980 até 2010.…”

Prevalencia de exposición a violencia directa e indirecta: un estudio con adolescentes de colegios públicos

“…De fato, dados de estudos nacionais e internacionais têm evidenciado a alta exposição à violência na adolescência (Benetti et al, 2006;Benetti, Pizetta, Schwartz, Hass, & Melo, 2010;Benetti, Ramires, Schneider, Rodrigues, & Tremarin, 2007;Haynie, Petts, Maimon, & Piquero, 2009;Margolin, Vickerman, Oliver, & Gordis, 2010;Mrug & Windle, 2010;Souza et al, 2014;Williams, D'Affonseca, Correia, & Albuquerque, 2011;Waiselfisz, 2014). Por exemplo, dados do Mapa da violência contra crianças e adolescentes no Brasil indicaram que as mortes por causas externas (por acidentes e violência, geralmente, homicídios) têm aumentado se comparadas com as mortes por causas naturais (doenças, por exemplo).…”

“…De fato, a exposição à violência em diversos contextos apresenta impacto no desenvolvimento humano (Benetti et al, 2006;Benetti et al, 2010;Hardaway, McLoyd, & Wood, 2012;Haynie et al, 2009;Murray, Cerqueira, & Kahn, 2013). Embora a maioria dos trabalhos trate das consequências da exposição direta à violência, pesquisadores têm indicado que não apenas ser a vítima, mas presenciar, testemunhar ou ouvir falar de cenas de violência -exposição indireta -também é fator de risco para o desenvolvimento (Almeida, Miranda, & Lourenço, 2013;Ho & Cheung, 2010;Mrug & Windle, 2010).…”

The emotional and behavioral problems of children exposed to poverty and/or collective violence in communities at the Mexico-United States border: A comparative study

“…Aggression, depression, anxiety, academic failure, isolation, suicide, running away from home, dropping out of high school, and coming into contact with the criminal justice system during adolescence and adulthood are some of the most prevalent outcomes. [5][6][7][8][9][10] A sub-type of direct and indirect violence, known as collective violence, has also been shown to be responsible for a considerable burden of physical and mental health morbidity among youth and adults. [11][12][13][14] According to the World Health Organization, "collective violence" includes the instrumental use of violence by people that identify themselves as members of a group, which could be transitory or with a more permanent identity, against another group of individuals in order to achieve political, economic, or social gain.…”