Influence of Interpersonal Violence and Community Chaos on Stress Reactions in Children

This study evaluated the separate and additive contributions of direct violent victimization, witnessed violence, and community chaos to children's posttraumatic stress reactions and behavior problems. Participants were 181 African American youths residing in low-income urban communities. Regression analyses revealed direct victimization to be most predictive of behavior problems and community chaos most predictive of posttraumatic stress reactions in children. Path models established community chaos as a mediator of the relation between witnessed violence and posttraumatic stress reactions and the relation between witnessed violence and behavior problems. Community chaos did not mediate the relation between direct victimization and posttraumatic stress reactions or behavior problems; however, a significant direct contribution of violent victimization to behavior problems was established. Findings support the emphasis placed on community chaos and instability in exacerbating stress reactions in the presence of interpersonal violence. Findings are discussed in terms of risk minimization and distress management.