Predicting Childhood and Adolescents' Exposure to Violence: Results from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods.

Exposure to violence (ETV) is an important public health concern due to the adverse developmental impacts it can have on children and adolescents. Although many studies have made attempts to identify risk factors that increase the odds of ETV, few to date have simultaneously considered neighborhood context, family, and individual risk factors in one model. Using data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN), we assess multiple types of ETV among 9, 12, and 15 year olds residing in approximately 80 neighborhoods in Chicago. A series of hierarchical linear models (HLM) indicate that while violence and community characteristics should be targeted for prevention and intervention, individual level risks are also important. Specifically, after controlling for neighborhood risk, children/ adolescents' with low self-control were highly likely to witness and experience violence. In addition, blacks, males, and older children from lower SES families were also at increased risk for exposure. We discuss implications of our findings and future research needs on ETV. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]