Exposure to violence against a family member and internalizing symptoms in Colombian adolescents: the protective effects of family support.

Abstract

Associations between exposure to serious violence against a family member and internalizing symptoms, and the protective effects of support from family versus friends, were examined in 5,775 adolescents (50% female; mean age = 15.2 years, SD = 2.0) with data from a national, random household survey of residents in Colombia, South America. After accounting for the effects of age, gender, and family life events other than violence, support from family buffered the relations between exposure to violence and adjustment; this relation was strongest for girls and younger adolescents. Disclosure to friends appeared to be protective for younger adolescents but harmful for older adolescents, and this relation was only observed for hopelessness. Results are discussed in terms of cognitive processing models of adjustment to violence.