School violence, adjustment, and the influence of hope on low-income, African American youth

Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2010 Apr;80(2):213-26. doi: 10.1111/j.1939-0025.2010.01025.x.

Abstract

The current study investigated the prevalence and impact of exposure to school violence using a cross-sectional design with a sample of 132 low-income, African American fifth graders (mean age = 10.20). Additionally, hope was examined in relation to adjustment and as a potential resilience factor in the context of school violence. Students completed self-report measures for exposure to school violence frequencies, self-concept, and hope. Teachers completed a teacher-rated survey assessing levels of problem behaviors, social skills, and academic competence. Results indicated that the majority of youth had been personally victimized or witnessed violence during a 3-month period. Exposure to school violence was positively associated with problem behaviors, and negatively associated with social skills, self-concept, and academic competence; hope was inversely related to externalizing behaviors and positively related to self-concept. Hope buffered the effects of personal victimization and witnessing violence on self-concept. Gender differences were observed for a number of the analyses. The implications of both the prevalence and impact of exposure to school violence, as well as the moderating effects of hope, are discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological*
  • Black or African American / psychology*
  • Child
  • Crime Victims / psychology*
  • Culture*
  • Educational Status
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Poverty / psychology*
  • Resilience, Psychological
  • Schools
  • Self Concept
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Social Behavior
  • Violence / statistics & numerical data*