Prevalence, socio-demographic risk factors and consequences of exposure to violence among adolescents in the Macassar community

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The goals of this study were to determine (1) the prevalence of exposure to non-sexualinterpersonal violence in a random sample ru=203) of adolescents (14-20 years) from adisadvantaged, relative low socio-economic coloured community, (2) the prevalence ratioof the number of participants who were only witnesses (witnesses) versus the number whowere victims (of which some might occasionally also have been witnesses) of non-sexualinterpersonal violence, (3) the relationship between certain socio-demographic variablesand exposure to non-sexual interpersonal violence in order to identify potential risk factors,and (4) to determine whether victims differed significantly from witnesses with regard tothe incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSDS) and post-traumaticstress symptoms (PTSS) that do not meet the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder.The sample consisted of Afrikaans-speaking coloured boys (!!=101) and girls (!!=102)between the ages of 14 and 20 years predominantly from low-income families who lived inmunicipal sub-economic housing, and who attended two high schools in Macassar.The measuring instruments comprised a customised socio-demograhpic questionnaire, theChild Exposure to Community Violence Scale which measures exposure to non-sexualinterpersonal violence as witnesses and victims and the Child and Adolescent PTSDChecklist to assess the incidence ofPTSDS and PTSS.In order to identify potential risk factors for exposure to violence, the relationship between,exposure to violence and the socio-demographic variables of age, gender andpresence/absence of a parent as primary caretaker was investigated. It was found that allparticipants were exposed to non-sexual interpersonal violence as either witnesses (37.9%)or victims (62.1 %). In contrast to findings of other studies, the majority of participantswere victims themselves and not only witnesses. Older adolescents (17-20 years) were, incomparison with younger ones (14-16 years), significantly more exposed to non-sexualinterpersonal violence as both witnesses and as victims. Older adolescents were thus moreat risk for exposure to interpersonal violence. No statistically significant relationship wasfound between exposure to non-sexual interpersonal violence, either as witness or asvictim, and the variables of gender and presence or absence of a parent as a pnmarycaregiver.The incidence of reported PTSDS and PTSS, which was significantly related to exposureto non-sexual interpersonal violence, was relatively high. Thirty adolescents (15%) met thediagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder, 131 (65%) presented with one or moreprominent PTSDS and a further 186 (90%) reported PTSS. Victims reported significantlymore PTSS than witnesses.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University