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Exposure to Community Violence: Defining the Problem and Understanding the Consequences

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Abstract

Exposure to community violence has emerged as a major risk factor for the development of emotional and behavioral problems in children and adolescents. In the past decade, there has been a proliferation of research within the fields of medicine, sociology, and psychology documenting the rates and consequences of exposure to community violence. This interdisciplinary growth has led to a great deal of variability within the field of exposure to community violence, making it difficult to glean general conclusions regarding rates and impact of exposure. This review advances the current understanding of exposure to community violence by integrating findings across disciplines as well as reviewing the few studies that have provided initial explanatory information regarding mediators and moderators of the relationship between exposure to community violence and its associated outcomes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA., USA

    Stacy Overstreet (Assistant Professor)

  2. Department of Psychology, Tulane University, 2007 Percival Stern Hall, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA

    Stacy Overstreet (Assistant Professor)

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Overstreet, S. Exposure to Community Violence: Defining the Problem and Understanding the Consequences. Journal of Child and Family Studies 9, 7–25 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009403530517

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