Associations Among Community Violence, Intimate Partner Violence, and Self-Concept

• In Event: Poster Session II

Abstract

The following research focuses on teens and their exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) and community violence, and how these experiences may impact their self-concept (i.e., future expectations and self-efficacy). The sample includes 212 participants (45% were male, 55% were female) ranging from the age of 13-18 who were recruited from three high schools in Southern California. 12.6% of youth were exposed to intimate partner violence and 86.1% of youth were exposed to community violence. An analysis of youth exposure to both IPV and community violence revealed that adolescents that are exposed to IPV have significantly higher rates of community violence exposure (p>0) with a mean of 10.33 compared to a mean of 6.63 for adolescents not exposed to IPV. However, there were no significant differences in a person’s self-concept between those exposed to IPV and those not exposed. Finally, a univariate test suggested IPV was not associated with self-efficacy or future expectations. According to the results intimate partner violence is not associated with self-concept, however, community violence and IPV were significantly and positively associated.

Authors

• Pedro Escobar, CSULA

• Carly Dierkhising, California State University, Los Angeles