Poster #78 - Examining the Role of Executive Functioning on the Effects of Community Violence among Urban Adolescents

• In Event: 2-002 - Special Poster Session 05 with Continental Breakfast Reception
  In Poster Session: PS 05 - Interdisciplinary Section

Integrative Statement

Objective: Exposure to community violence can lead to a cascade of neurocognitive, mental health, and behavioral challenges among urban adolescents. Influenced by the bio-ecological framework, this study examines if problems with executive functioning exacerbate the relation between exposure to violence and internalizing symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms) and externalizing behaviors (e.g., hyperactivity and attention problems) for males and females. Method: Participants included 302 primarily African American and Latino adolescents (Mage = 15.42, SD = 1.21; 51% female) who resided in 30 census tracts from high-burden urban neighborhoods on the West and South sides of Chicago. The Behavior Rating Inventory on Executive Function (BRIEF), Behavioral Assessment System for Children (BASC-2), and the Exposure to Violence subscale within the Chicago Youth Development Study (CYDS) Stress and Coping Interview were administered. Results: Most adolescents (72%) indicated that they had been exposed to at least one act of violence in the past year. In examination of main effects among females, exposure to violence was associated with higher levels of all internalizing symptoms and externalizing behaviors, and problems with executive functioning were associated with higher levels of anxiety, depression, attention problems and hyperactivity. Additionally, problems with executive functioning exacerbated the relationship between exposure to violence and depression, attention problems, and hyperactivity among females. Among males, a few main effects were found: exposure to violence was associated with higher levels of depression, attention problems, and hyperactivity, while problems with executive functioning were associated with higher levels of attention problems. Problems with executive functioning exacerbated the relationship between exposure to violence and somatization among males. Conclusions: These results suggest that problems with executive functioning may worsen negative outcomes (e.g., internalizing and externalizing problems) among adolescents exposed to higher levels of violence. Additionally, the interaction between exposure to violence and problems with executive functioning on internalizing symptoms and externalizing behaviors differ for females and males. Enhancing executive functioning abilities may be promising targets for future interventions aiming to decrease adverse effects of community violence. Researchers and clinicians that work with ethnic minority youth exposed to violence should closely examine gender differences in order to effectively aim to strengthen executive functioning skills.

Authors

• Sireen Bahia Irsheid, University of Chicago
  Presenting Author

• Rachel C Garthe, University of Illinois
  Non-Presenting Author

• Deborah Gorman-Smith, University of Chicago
  Non-Presenting Author

• Michael Schoeny, University of Chicago
  Non-Presenting Author