Adolescent Violence Exposure and Victimization at Home: Coping and Psychological Trauma Symptoms

Abstract

The present study examined the relationship between home violence exposure and victimization and adolescent coping strategies, psychological trauma symptoms, and self-reported violent behavior. Data were collected from a sample of 3,734 adolescents in grades 9 through 12. Results indicated that both males and females reported high rates of home violence exposure and victimization. High levels of violence exposure at home were associated with adolescents utilizing more adaptive ( e.g., going to church) and more maladaptive coping strategies ( e.g., using alcohol or drugs) compared to adolescents in the low home violence exposure group. For both males and females, home violence exposure was also related to higher levels of psychological trauma symptoms including anger, depression, and post-traumatic stress. Average scores for violent behavior among adolescents in the high exposure group were more than three times higher for girls and two times higher for boys than scores for adolescents in the low exposure group. As expected, females endorsed more internalizing and interpersonal coping strategies, while males endorsed more instrumental coping strategies. This study illustrates the significant impact of home violence exposure and victimization on adolescents' ability to cope with significant stress, their experience of psychological trauma symptoms and their own violent behavior.