Abstract
Methods
The sample included 2,345 adolescents from a community-based sample in the US. The mean age was 14 years at the time that
violence experiences in the home, school, and neighborhood were reported; psychiatric outcomes were assessed 2 years later
using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children. We applied latent class analysis to identify adolescents with common
patterns of violence exposure and obtained adjusted prevalence ratios for the associations between violence classes and psychopathology.
violence experiences in the home, school, and neighborhood were reported; psychiatric outcomes were assessed 2 years later
using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children. We applied latent class analysis to identify adolescents with common
patterns of violence exposure and obtained adjusted prevalence ratios for the associations between violence classes and psychopathology.
Results
A four-class model was selected based on fit statistics and meaningfulness, and adolescents were categorized into four classes:
low violence, home violence, neighborhood violence/traumatic news, and multiple settings of violence. Relative to adolescents in the low violence class, risk of MDD for adolescents in the home violence, neighborhood violence/traumatic news, and multiple settings classes was 1.62, 1.47, and 2.44 times higher, respectively (p values <0.05); risk for GAD was 1.61 and 2.87 times higher for adolescents in the neighborhood violence/traumatic news and multiple settings classes, respectively (p values <0.05).
low violence, home violence, neighborhood violence/traumatic news, and multiple settings of violence. Relative to adolescents in the low violence class, risk of MDD for adolescents in the home violence, neighborhood violence/traumatic news, and multiple settings classes was 1.62, 1.47, and 2.44 times higher, respectively (p values <0.05); risk for GAD was 1.61 and 2.87 times higher for adolescents in the neighborhood violence/traumatic news and multiple settings classes, respectively (p values <0.05).
Conclusion
Exposure to a high level of violence—within a single domain or multiple domains—poses significant risk for MDD and GAD, and
risk increases with high exposure in multiple domains. Thus, pervasive exposure to violence is associated with the highest
risk for the development of psychopathology. Based on these results, prevention and treatment efforts should target adolescents
exposed to violence in multiple settings.
risk increases with high exposure in multiple domains. Thus, pervasive exposure to violence is associated with the highest
risk for the development of psychopathology. Based on these results, prevention and treatment efforts should target adolescents
exposed to violence in multiple settings.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-15
- DOI 10.1007/s00127-011-0466-5
- Authors
- Natalie Slopen, Department of Society, Human Development, and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USA
- Garrett M. Fitzmaurice, Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USA
- David R. Williams, Department of Society, Human Development, and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USA
- Stephen E. Gilman, Department of Society, Human Development, and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USA
- Journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
- Online ISSN 1433-9285
- Print ISSN 0933-7954