Exploring Adolescent Experiences With Exposure to Community Violence

TOPIC: Exposure to violence negatively impacts the lives and health of adolescents. Twenty-two adolescents participated in focus groups to discuss the issue of community violence. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore adolescents' experiences with exposure to community violence, their perceived needs, and recommendations for community interventions. SOURCES: Data from content analysis of transcriptions of focus group discussions described the adolescents' recommendations for solutions. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicated that these adolescent participants sustain personal strengths despite feelings of helplessness related to high prevalence of exposures to community violence. Further research to investigate community interventions for adolescents exposed to community violence is needed. Implications and recommendations for nurses are discussed.