Witnessing violence: biopsychosocial impact on children

Many school-age children from low-income areas witness violence such as gang activities, gunshots, and physical assault, which can lead to an acute stress response. A correlational, descriptive design was used with a convenience sample of 62 children, ages 7-14 years, from an inner-city school distr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPediatric nursing Vol. 31; no. 4; pp. 263 - 270
Main Author Skybo, Theresa
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Jannetti Publications, Inc 01.07.2005
Anthony J. Jannetti, Inc
Subjects
Adaptation, Psychological
Adolescent
Adolescents
African American Children
Art Therapy
Attitude to Health
Child
Child Development
Child Welfare - statistics & numerical data
Children & youth
Cognitive Development
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Grade 5
Humans
Interview, Psychological
Life Change Events
Low income groups
Male
Models, Psychological
Nursing
Nursing Methodology Research
Ohio
Pediatrics
Perceptions
Poverty - psychology
Practice
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Psychological Theory
Psychology, Adolescent
Psychology, Child
Risk Factors
Social impact
Socially handicapped children
Stress
Stress, Psychological - psychology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Urban Health - statistics & numerical data
Urban Schools
Violence
Violence - prevention & control
Violence - psychology
Violence - statistics & numerical data
Ohio
United States
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Summary:Many school-age children from low-income areas witness violence such as gang activities, gunshots, and physical assault, which can lead to an acute stress response. A correlational, descriptive design was used with a convenience sample of 62 children, ages 7-14 years, from an inner-city school district to assess children's appraisal of violence and their biopsychosocial symptoms associated with violent encounters. Most (95%) of these children witnessed violent acts. Appraisals of these events were consistent with Lazarus' appraisal categories of harm/loss and threat. Total number of witnessed violent encounters correlated with the number of stress symptoms (r = .272) and frequency of symptoms (r = .336). There was no significant difference between gender and race and exposure to violence or their biopsychosocial symptoms. These results enhance our understanding of children's perceptions of violence and their stress responses.
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ISSN:0097-9805