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Buffering the effects of violence: communication and problem‐solving skills as protective factors for adolescents exposed to violence
Author(s) -
LeBlanc Monique,
SelfBrown Shan,
Shepard Desti,
Kelley Mary Lou
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/jcop.20438
Subject(s) - moderation , psychology , association (psychology) , clinical psychology , psychological distress , distress , developmental psychology , social psychology , psychiatry , mental health , psychotherapist
Although many adolescents exposed to violence evidence negative outcomes, some report few deleterious effects, indicating the presence of moderating variables. This study examined the moderating role of family communication and problem solving on positive and negative outcomes in adolescents exposed to school and neighborhood violence. Participants were 90 adolescents and their parents, who completed measures of violence exposure, psychological and behavioral functioning, and communication and problem‐solving skills. Results indicated that after controlling for demographic variables and violence exposure in the home, communication and problem‐solving skills moderated the association between school and neighborhood violence exposure and psychological distress. There was no moderation of the violence exposure‐positive outcome association. The findings suggest that family communication and problem‐solving skills might serve a protective function for adolescents, thereby decreasing psychological distress in the face of school and neighborhood violence exposure. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.