\I want to live in a neighborhood where I'm not scared\

Abstract

Statistically, high poverty communities (and those who live in these communities) experience higher rates of violence than middle and upper income communities (Nikula, Spatz Widom & Czaja, 2011). Repeated exposure to community violence impacts one's perception of safety, which includes protection from elements, security, stability, order, and the freedom from fear (Maslow, 1943). This interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study was conducted with the purpose of examining the lived experiences of six adolescents who have experienced trauma related to repeated exposure to community violence. Four themes emerged as the researcher analyzed the qualitative data regarding how participants made sense of their experiences. First, participants viewed safety in their community as complex, depending on numerous variables. Second, participants reported relationships with those close to them as critical in determining whether or not they communicated about their experiences of trauma. Third, participants' exposure to chronic community violence had an impact on their perception of safety, specifically in regards to ongoing feelings of fear and worry. Finally, participants' views of other people and the world in general were altered by chronic community violence and the trauma associated with witnessing it.