Pathological Adaptation to Exposure to Community Violence in Minority Male Youth

Loyola University Of Chicago, Chicago IL

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of the current project is to examine the model of pathologic adaptation to community violence in a sample of African American and Latino male adolescents residing in low socioeconomic urban neighborhoods. The pathologic adaptation model suggests that youth who become desensitized to violence show less emotional distress, but more violent behavior. The intent of the current project is to test the feasibility of the model, as well as understand how protective factors (i.e., support from family, coping strategies) and vulnerability factors (i.e., deviant beliefs, aggression status) may increas or decrease risk for pathologic adaptation. This application proposes to achieve this goal by conducting secondary data analysis with this vulnerable population. The proposed study will be accomplished through three aims. Aim 1 is to examine the model of pathologic adaptation to community violence using multiple indicators of violence (i.e., severity, witnessing, and victimization). Aim 1 will be tested by [latent growth curve modeling]. Aim 2 is to examine coping processes, parental support, and deviant beliefs as moderators of the linear and nonlinear associations of community violence to pathologic adaptation outcomes. [Latent growth curve modeling] will be used to test Aim 2. Aim 3 is to examine moderating effects of participant ethnicity and pre-test aggression status on the associations of community violence to pathologic adaptation outcomes. [Latent growth curve modeling] will also be used to test Aim 3. The proposed research has the potential to narrow the critical research gap in knowledge on the variations in the impact of exposure to community violence among young men of color residing in low-income, urban communities. The knowledge gained from the study can be used to inform the development of effective preventive interventions to preempt or halt the progression of maladaptive outcomes in these youth. Specifically, the longitudinal, prospective examination of the pathologic adaptation model in this sample will help to identify specific periods of vulnerability, critical levels of ecological risk, vulnerability and protective factors, and, consequently, determine when, where and how to intervene. The identification of aspects of exposure to community violence associated with maladaptive outcomes will reveal aspects of youth environments that can be modified as part of community-level efforts to improve adolescent well-being. The identification of vulnerability factors (i.e., pre-test aggression-statu) will help to identify youth who are at heightened risk for desensitization in response to community violence exposure and, thus, should be targeted for intervention. In addition, understanding how individual (i.e., deviant cognitions, coping strategies) and family (i.e., parental support) factors may increase or reduce the risk of maladaptive outcomes in response to exposure to community violence will yield information about malleable processes that can be targeted to maximize intervention efficacy/effectiveness.