Predictors of violence exposure among inner-city youth

Examined the ability of demographic variables and risk factors (parental su bstance use, number of people in the home, out-of-home placements, grades r epeated, arrest history, and total life stress) to predict exposure to comm unity violence among 342 high school students from inner-city Baltimore ref erred for mental health care in community centers or in the schools. Over 9 0% of the sample knew at least 1 victim of a violent act, 77% reported witn essing a violent act, and 47% reported past victimization by violence. Risk variables were more powerful regression predictors of violence exposure th an demographic characteristics such as race, sex, or clinical setting. Even after controlling for demographic differences in violence exposure, risk f actors as a group accounted for another 10% to 15% of variance. Life stress was the most consistent predictor of violence exposure for this sample, an d life stress was the only variable to make a significant unique contributi on to the prediction of all 4 violence criteria.