EMOTIONAL IMPACT OF CHILDRENS EXPOSURE TO COMMUNITY VIOLENCE - A PRELIMINARY-STUDY

Objective: To use multiple methods and measures to investigate prelimi narily the emotional impact of children's exposure to community violen ce. Method: Thirty-seven schoolchildren between the ages of 7 and 12 y ears were categorized into groups with ''high'' or ''low'' frequency o f exposure. Results: Differing levels of exposure to community violenc e did not appear to have an impact on DSM-III-R diagnoses. Exposure to high levels of community violence was not related to internalizing be havior and disorders, but rather was associated with externalizing beh avior. Conclusions: There appears to be an adverse relationship betwee n high levels of exposure to community violence and emotional and cond uct problems. Vicarious learning serves as an explanatory construct fo r these findings.