A PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF EMOTIONAL AND COGNITIVE MEDIATORS IN THE RELATIONS BETWEEN VIOLENCE EXPOSURE AND VIOLENT BEHAVIORS IN YOUTH

This study examined the possible mediational roles of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and acceptance of violence cognitions in the association between violence exposure and youth violent behaviors. This study also examined whether the strength of the relations between exposure and behavior varied across context of exposure and across sex. Participants were 123 early adolescents from the Midwest. Findings indicate a strong positive association between violence exposure at home and in the community. Regardless of context, violence exposure was significantly related to PTSD symptoms and acceptance of violence cognitions, and violent behaviors in youth. PTSD symptoms and acceptance of violence cognitions were both significant mediators in the exposure-behavior relationship but the associations differed for girls and boys and varied across context of exposure. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.