Violence Exposure as Betrayal Trauma in Adjudicated Male Youth Sample

• In Event: The Importance of Context in the Exposure to Violence

Abstract

Research has consistently linked childhood violence exposure to subsequent negative developmental outcomes. Specifically, the literature has focused on how extent and type of violence exposure affect outcomes, but less is known about the effects of violence exposure in different contexts. However, Freyd’s (1994) betrayal trauma theory (BTT) states trauma perpetrated by a caregiver has especially egregious consequences. This study utilizes BTT to hypothesize that home-based violence exposure will better predict psychological outcomes (emotion dysregulation, parental attachment) and delinquency outcomes (previous offenses, total infractions) collected through three distinct sources of reporting (self, legal system, staff at delinquency program) in a sample of primarily African American adjudicated youth (n = 72), than exposure in school or neighborhood contexts. In accordance with BTT, results indicated that not all violence contexts are the same in terms of developmental impact. Specifically, violence exposure at home was better predictive of in-residence infractions and of stronger parental attachment than exposure in other contexts. Additionally, violence exposure in the neighborhood was more strongly related to emotion dysregulation than exposure in other contexts. Results also suggested that pre-adjudication offenses could not be predicted by violence exposure in any of the contexts. Theoretical and practical implications and limitations are discussed.

Authors

• Emma Lathan, University of South Alabama

• Jennifer Langhinrichsen-Rohling, University of South Alabama

• James Stefurak, University of South Alabama

• Sarah Koon-Magnin, University of South Alabama