Access Type
Open Access Thesis
Date of Award
January 2013
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A.
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Paul A. Toro
Abstract
Using hierarchical multiple regression, overall social support was found to moderate the relationship between exposure to community violence and psychological distress for European American and African-American at-risk emerging adults. For both ethnic groups, neither ISEL total nor SNI helping social support moderated the relation between community violence and the outcomes of substance abuse and conduct disorder/deviant behaviors. Ethnicity moderated the relationship between exposure to community violence and substance abuse behaviors within an SNI helping support regression, such that European Americans who reported greater violence exposure reported more substance abuse symptoms. SNI helping support moderated the relationship between exposure to community violence and conduct disorder behaviors, such that individuals who reported greater SNI support and increased violence exposure reported greater conduct disorder behaviors. These findings support the theory that among at-risk emerging adults, social support buffers between community violence and psychological distress, but is not protective against the adverse effects of violence on the development of externalizing behaviors, and, further, may be harmful.
Recommended Citation
Reid, Holly Hannah, "Community Violence, Ethnicity, Psychological Distress, And Externalizing Behaviors In Emerging Adulthood: The Moderating Effects Of Social Support" (2013). Wayne State University Theses. 244.
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_theses/244