Children exposed to violence are more likely to have behavioral problems than other children. "There is a relationship between the physical proximity of exposure to violence and psychological maladjustment among urban school-aged children," said Oscar H. Purugganan, M.D., M.P.H., of Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Children's Hospital at Montefiore in New York City.
The child's physical closeness to the violence is more important than the child's relationship to the victim of violence. Being the victim of violence is a stronger predictor of behavioral problems than witnessing violence to others which, in turn, is a stronger predictor than just hearing about the violence.
Dr. Purugganan goes on, "Those who were direct victims of violence had the most behavioral problems, followed by those who were witnesses, and then by those who were exposed through other people's report or the media."
This finding crosses socioeconomic levels. Consistent results are found in inner-city groups as well as suburban groups. There are few violent acts in the suburbs.
Dr. Purugganan concludes, "In the backdrop of high rates of exposure to violence, doctors should be vigilant in recognizing maladaptive patterns of behaviors in children exposed to violence."
Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 12/03
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