Journal of Interpersonal Violence
Volume 22, Issue 10, 2007, Pages 1227-1249

Maternal depression and adolescent behavior problems: An examination of mediation among immigrant Latino mothers and their adolescent children exposed to community violence (Article)

Aisenberg E.* , Trickett P.K. , Mennen F.E. , Saltzman W. , Zayas L.H.
  • a University of Washington, School of Social Work, University of Washington, 4101 15th Ave N.E., Seattle, WA 98105-6299
  • b University of Southern California
  • c University of Southern California
  • d California State University, Long Beach
  • e University of Washington

Abstract

This study examines the psychological and behavioral effects of exposure to community violence of 47 Latino mothers and their young adolescent children. Using data gathered from multiple sources, this study tests the associations between lifetime exposure to community violence, maternal depression, and child behavior problems. More than 80% of the youngsters ranging from age 11 to 14 years and 68% of the mothers reported being exposed to at least one act of community violence either as a victim or as a witness. Analyses reveal that maternal depression is a mediator of child behavior problems, reducing the direct effect of community violence exposure by more than 50%. Findings suggest that maternal depression is a factor more important than child's community violence exposure in contributing to young adolescents' behavioral problems. © 2007 Sage Publications.

Author Keywords

community violence Latino Maternal depression Adolescent behavior problems

Index Keywords

depression psychological aspect interpersonal communication human Negotiating statistics violence Mother-Child Relations child behavior ethnology Hispanic Americans United States Humans Hispanic Adolescent California Emigrants and Immigrants female questionnaire Mothers victim Article Adolescent Behavior Questionnaires mother adult migration mother child relation Crime Victims Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-34548321378&doi=10.1177%2f0886260507304292&partnerID=40&md5=a2888a4e4f816092fcc2d5da40a30811
DOI: 10.1177/0886260507304292
ISSN: 08862605
Cited by: 29
Original Language: English