The role of relationship proximity to witnessed community violence and youth outcomes

AimsThis study examines whether the relational proximity to the victim or perpetrator of witnessed community violence is associated with youth symptoms. MethodsData come from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect, a national high-risk sample. The sample included 12-year-old youth (N=720) who had witnessed violence in their lifetimes. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions tested whether relationship proximity differentiated youth functioning (social competency, withdrawal, anxiety/depression, delinquency, and aggression), and whether gender moderated these effects. ResultsWitnessing violence toward a parent was associated with greater withdrawal, delinquency, and aggression symptoms. Witnessing violence perpetrated by a stranger was associated with lower social competency, higher anxiety/depression, and higher delinquency. Two perpetrator associations differed by gender. ConclusionFindings suggest important differences in outcomes based on relational proximity to victims and perpetrators. The particularly widespread associations between witnessing violence against a parent and youth functioning underscore the importance of targeting interventions toward youth with parent victims.