Article Summary
Howard, K. A. S., Budge, S. L., & McKay, K. M. (2010).
Youth exposed to violence: The role of protective factors. Journal of Community Psychology,
38(1), 63-79. doi: 10.1002/jcop.20352
Statistics show that inner-city youth experience large amounts of distress from exposure to violence. However, several studies have suggested that some positive influences such as family and peer relations can moderate such exposure. The authors of this study researched these positive factors and measured the impact of youth exposure to violence on academic performance, psychological distress, and persistence intentions. The authors conducted the research from an existing dataset of 174 urban ninth-grade youth from a large Midwestern city. The students of the study had low socioeconomic status. The sample of high school students in this study indicates alarming rates of experience of violence within this particular Midwestern urban community. The research concludes that support provided by family members as well as peers serves as a powerful protective factor. The results of the study suggest that students who are exposed to elevated amounts of community violence, but who have high levels of family support, report fewer symptoms of distress. Support from peers also significantly moderates the effects of exposure to violence. It can be concluded from this study that both family and peer support provide a protective-stabilizing and moderating effect for youth exposed to violence. However, family and peer support have not been found to diminish the impact of violence in relation to youth’s academic performance.
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