Witnessing violence: biopsychosocial impact on children

• Published in: Pediatric nursing Vol. 31; no. 4; pp. 263 - 270
• Main Author: Skybo, Theresa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• 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
• ISSN: 0097-9805

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.