Violence Exposure and Adjustment in Inner-City Youth: Child and Caregiver Emotion Regulation Skill, Caregiver–Child Relationship Quality, and Neighborhood Cohesion as Protective Factor

Abstract

This short-term, longitudinal interview study used an ecological framework to explore protective factors within the child, the caregiver, the caregiver-child relationship, and the community that might moderate relations between community violence exposure and subsequent internalizing and externalizing adjustment problems and the different patterns of protection they might confer. Participants included 101 pairs of African American female caregivers and one of their children (56% male, M = 11.15 yrs, SD = 1.28) living in high-violence areas of a mid-sized southeastern city. Child emotion regulation skill, felt acceptance from caregiver, observed quality of caregiver-child interaction, and caregiver regulation of emotion each were protective, but the pattern of protection differed across level of the child's ecology and form of adjustment. Implications for prevention are discussed.

Regulación emocional en niños y adolescentes: conceptos, procesos e influencias

“…Similarly, the availability of the environment to provide early professional intervention to emotional and behavioral difficulties has a great impact on the capacity of children to learn to manage their impulses and emotions. Family support and safe social environments work as factors that protect against the onset of psychopathology and ensure the emotional adjustment of children and adolescents in the long term, even in the eventuality of adverse circumstances (Amone-P' Olak et al, 2007;Cui, Morris, Criss, Houltberg, & Silk, 2014;Kim & Cicchetti, 2010;Kliewer et al, 2001;Kliewer et al, 2004;Raver, 2004, Wadsworth & Compas, 2002.…”

“…Cole, Dennis, Smith-Simon, & Cohen, 2009;Jacobson, Marrocco, Kleinman, & Gould, 2011;Kliewer, Cunningham, Diehl, Parrish Walker, Atiyeh, & Mejia, 2004;Neumann, Van Lier, Frijns, Meeus,, & Koot, 2011;Pisani, Wyman, Petrova, Schmeelk-Cone, Goldston, Xia, & Gould, 2013;Silk, Steinberg, & Morris, 2003).…”

Violência urbana: um desafio para o pediatra

“…Some skills are cited, such as the ability to control their own emotions, to solve problems, to feel accepted by their families and by the community where they live and the quality of the relationship with their caregivers. 13 Pride, self-satisfaction and participation in social groups help young people to develop skills that improve their self-esteem and can therefore prevent them from taking part in urban violence. 14,15 Family and the links established by it may play a key role, either direct or indirect, in protecting young people from urban violence.…”

“…18 The support parents give their children seems to have a protective action, but it is not always enough to minimize all the effects of violence. 10,13 Based on this fact, studies show that intense punishment at home, increased tolerance of misconduct and use of psychological threats are related to the development of behavioral problems among young people exposed to urban violence. 10,19 The expectations of adolescents about their future and a positive outlook on their lives seem to work as protective factors against the later development of risky behaviors.…”

“…14,20 The feeling of belonging to a group with own identity, taking part in social gatherings and engaging in community work may render young people less susceptible to the development of behavioral disorders that result from the exposure or victimization to urban violence. 13 On the other hand, previous unstable emotional state, as well as the individual and family response to a trauma may predispose to later involvement in acts of violence. 21 Through a positive attitude, with emphasis on children and adolescents, family may act as a mediator in the development of negative future outcomes resulting from violence.…”