The impact of violence on school -age children

• Main Author: Skybo, Theresa A
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01.01.2003
• Subjects: Children & youth; Impact analysis; Nursing; Public health; Studies; Violence
• ISBN: 9780496566464; 0496566466

Violence in the United States is an increasingly serious problem. School-age children have witnessed violent acts such as gang activities, police arrests, gunshots, robberies, drug deals, and physical assault. Little research focuses on children's appraisal of witnessing violence or their biopsychosocial responses. Based on Lazarus' stress-coping theory and developmental theory, the purpose of this study is to examine children's appraisal of witnessed violence and their biopsychosocial responses. The specific aims of this study were: (1) To characterize children's exposure to violence and their biopsychosocial responses. (2) To determine the relationships among gender, types and frequency of exposure, appraisal of violence, and biopsychosocial responses. (3) To determine the contribution of children's exposure to violence to the biopsychosocial symptoms that they report. (4) To determine if there is a difference between boys and girls in their exposure to violence and in their biopsychosocial symptoms. A correlational, descriptive design was used with a convenience sample of 62 school-age children from an inner-city school district. Data were collected during after-school programs via 7 open-ended questions (appraisal of violence exposure), a human figure drawing (psychological response), and two self-report instruments (exposure to and impact of violence, stress related symptoms). Most of these children witnessed violent acts in their neighborhoods. Appraisals of these events were consistent with Lazarus' appraisal categories of harm/loss and threat. Children who experience several violent episodes exhibit a greater impact from these events and more stress symptoms. Gender has no significant impact on exposure to violence or experienced biopsychosocial symptoms. This is the first study to examine children's appraisal of witnessed violence and their biopsychosocial responses. These findings can be used for nursing interventions to minimize children's exposure to violence and improve coping behaviors to decrease the toll of violence.