EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE AND VICTIMIZATION AND DEPRESSION, HOPELESSNESS, AND PURPOSE IN LIFE AMONG ADOLESCENTS LIVING IN AND AROUND PUBLIC-HOUSING

This study examines the relationships between exposure to violence and depression, hopelessness, and purpose in life among black adolescents living in or around public housing developments. Black adolescents (N = 225, males = 44%) ages 11 to 19 years in a southern city were admin istered an anonymous questionnaire. Depression was correlated with the exposure to violence (r = .28), family conflict (r = .29), and corpor al punishment (r =. 32) scales, perceived probability of being alive a t age 25 years (r = .14), socioeconomic status of head of household (r = .14), anticipated socioeconomic status as an adult (r = .21), and n umber of sexual partners (r = .22). Based on multiple regression analy sis, corporal punishment, family conflict, educational level of head o f household, and perceived probability of being alive at age 25 years explained 18% (p less than or equal to .0001) of the variation in depr ession. Family conflict, corporal punishment, and unemployed head of h ousehold explained 11% of the variation in the hopelessness scale. Une mployed head of household, the corporal punishment scale, and number o f sexual partners explained 9.7% of the variation in purpose in life. Even when accounting for other social factors, exposure to violence in the home was associated with psychological distress in this sample of adolescents.