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Community violence exposure in a young adult sample: lifetime prevalence and socioemotional effects
- Author:
- SCARPA Angela
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 16(1), January 2001, pp.36-53.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This study extends findings of the prevalence and consequences of community violence exposure in at-risk youth to a young adult and low-risk population. A total of 476 male and female university students completed a survey of lifetime exposure to community violence. Based on high and low reports of exposure as a witness or victim, 54 returned to complete questionnaires on depression, anxiety, and aggression. Of the full sample, 95.6% of respondents reported witnessing and 82% reported being victimised by some form of violence; 81.6% and 44.8% reported experiencing at least three different forms of violence as a witness or victim, respectively. Of the returning sub-sample, high- versus low-exposure groups reported significantly greater aggression and depression. These findings underscore the persistence of violence-related problems into young adulthood and the unfortunate prevalence of violence even among populations traditionally though of as low risk.
Lifetime prevalence and socioeconomic effects of hearing about community violence
- Authors:
- SCARPA Angela, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 21(1), January 2006, pp.5-23.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This American study extends findings on community violence (CV) exposure in young adults by examining the prevalence, characteristics, and socioemotional effects related to hearing about violence. Surveys of lifetime CV exposure and socioemotional outcomes were completed by 518 male and female undergraduates completed and were divided into groups with high, moderate, or low scores on hearing. Of respondents, 97.8% reported hearing about violence at least once, with a substantial proportion hearing about different types of acts. Reportedly, the most frequent perpetrators were nonfamily members, the most frequent location was near home, and most incidents occurred within the past year. The high-scoring group reported significantly greater levels of depressed mood, posttraumatic stress symptoms, aggressive behaviour, and interpersonal problems associated with personality disorders. Results extend previous findings on the unfortunate prevalence of violence exposure and its negative psychological effects in today’s young adults and suggest that chronic exposure to hearing about violence can have deleterious repercussions.
The mediating role of peritraumatic dissociation and thought control strategies on posttraumatic stress in women survivors of child sexual and physical abuse
- Authors:
- WILSON Laura C., SCARPA Angela
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Aggression Maltreatment and Trauma, 21(4), May 2012, pp.477-494.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Although substantial research supports the link between childhood abuse and future psychological distress, a subset of survivors do not evidence maladjustment following abuse. Different outcomes might be related to characteristics of the survivor, perpetrator, or abuse events. The aim of this study was to examine the link between cognitive coping strategies, type of abuse, and posttraumatic stress symptomatology. The study participants were 294 undergraduate women aged 18-26 years who reported experiencing child sexual or physical abuse before the age of 14 years. The participants completed an online survey which included several standardised measures. Several key findings emerged: reported use of cognitive coping strategies significantly differed based on the type of abuse; some differences in posttraumatic stress symptomatology emerged based on the type of abuse; and, once the cognitive coping strategies were accounted for, the type of abuse was no longer associated with posttraumatic stress symptomatology. These findings suggest that peritraumatic dissociation, punishment, and social control significantly mediated the relationship between the type of abuse and posttraumatic stress symptomatology. Implications for clinicians working with child abuse survivors are discussed.
Community violence victimization and depressed mood: the moderating effects of coping and social support
- Authors:
- HADEN Sara C., SCARPA Angela
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 23(9), September 2008, pp.1213-1234.
- Publisher:
- Sage
The objectives of the current study were to (a) determine how lifetime community violence (CV) victimization, coping behaviour, social support (SS), and depressed mood are related in young adults, and (b) assess whether the relationship between CV victimization and depressive reactions is moderated by perceived SS and coping style. Five hundred fifty college students (160 men, 355 women) completed questionnaires measuring lifetime experiences with violence, current depressed mood, perceptions of SS from family and friends, and general coping styles. Results of a series of hierarchical regressions indicated a positive relationship between frequency of CV victimization and depressed mood. Low levels of perceived SS and problem-focused coping and high levels of disengagement coping were associated with increased depression scores overall, but there was an interaction effect such that high disengagement coping strengthened the relationship between CV and depressed mood. Moreover, when controlling for the effect of posttraumatic stress, high-perceived friend support and low disengagement coping served as protective factors for depressed mood. These results were particularly strong in individuals whose last CV experience occurred within the previous 2 years. Findings suggest that perceptions of support and ability to actively cope with stressors are very important in the adjustment to CV victimization.
The noradrenergic system and its involvement in aggressive behaviors
- Authors:
- HADDEN Sara Chiara, SCARPA Angela
- Journal article citation:
- Aggression and Violent Behavior, 12(1), January 2007, pp.1-15.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Although a multitude of variables are associated with the expression of aggression, it is imperative that accurate neurochemical vulnerabilities be understood. Norepinephrine is one neurochemical that has been linked to aggressive behaviour displayed by nonhuman and human animals. The purpose of the present review was to interpret research findings regarding this relationship. The authors evaluated previous research in order to determine whether a reliable connection between norepinephrine and aggressive behaviour exists. Moreover, the potential nature of the norepinephrine–aggressive behaviour relationship is presented. In general, research has found a positive relationship between levels of norepinephrine and aggressive behaviour among nonhuman animals and humans. However, multiple studies reporting contradictory results were also reviewed that suggest a nonlinear relationship. Norepinephrine's relationship with aggressive behaviour may best be explained in terms of the stress–response system and the type of aggressive behaviour elicited. Limitations of the previous studies and ideas for future research are discussed.
Family conflict and childhood aggression: the role of child anxiety
- Authors:
- TANAKA Akiho, RAISHEVICH Natoshia, SCARPA Angela
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 25(11), November 2010, pp.2127-2143.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Despite the primary psychiatric condition in young people, moderate to severe aggression is often categorised by poor treatments outcomes and the need for longer and more intensive treatment. Also, family conflict and childhood anxiety has been implicated in the development of aggressive behaviours, but the nature of these relationships has not been fully explored. As such, this study examined the role of anxiety in moderating the relationship between family conflict and childhood aggression in 50 children, aged 7 to 13 years, in the United States. The study proposed that family conflict would be positively related to aggression in the context of higher levels of child anxiety. Parents completed self-report instruments examining family conflict and aggressive behaviour exhibited by their children. Children completed a self-report measure of anxiety. Findings indicated that the hypothesis was partially supported as family conflict was related to increased proactive but not reactive aggression in children with high levels of anxiety.
Community violence victimization and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder
- Authors:
- SCARPA Angela, HADEN Sara Chiara, HURLEY Jimmy
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 21(4), April 2006, pp.446-469.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This study tested the relationship of community violence (CV) victimization to severity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the roles of coping style and perceived social support in moderating that relationship. Three-hundred seventy-two men and women (age 18 to 22 years) self-reported on CV exposure, traumatic experiences, PTSD symptoms, perceived support from family and friends, and coping strategies. Results indicated that high CV victimization, high disengagement coping (i.e., avoidant styles), and low perceived social support from family and friends significantly predicted increased PTSD scores. Significant moderating effects indicated that the relationship between victimization and heightened PTSD severity was stronger at high levels of perceived friend support and disengagement. Thus, the protective function of friend support seemed to break down at increasing levels of victimization, whereas, as expected, avoidant styles of coping increased the risk for negative outcome. Findings are discussed in terms of event controllability, negative social reactions, and coping resources.
Pathways linking child physical abuse, depression and aggressiveness across genders
- Authors:
- SCARPA Angela, HADEN Sara Chiara, ABERCROMBY Jennifer M.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Aggression Maltreatment and Trauma, 19(7), October 2010, pp.757-776.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Previous work has shown links between child physical abuse, aggression and depression. This study from the USA aims to acknowledge these links and in addition explore any gender differences in the mediational relationships between aggression, child abuse and depression, after controlling for the effects of other negative life events. Three hundred and thirty five male and female college students, aged between 18 and 21 and including 62 black and minority ethnic people. completed online surveys about physical abuse, depressive symptoms, aggressiveness and other negative life events which they had experienced before reaching 18. Two pathways were examined: depression as an intervening variable between child physical abuse and aggressiveness, and aggressiveness as an intervening variable between child physical abuse and depression. Four analyses using different models were used on each pathway. Findings indicated significant gender differences in the pathways between child physical abuse and depression and between child abuse and aggressiveness, but were only directly linked in men. The authors suggest other negative life effects may play more of a role in women.