Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #103126

Patrick J. Fowler, BA, Department of Psychology/ Research Group on Homelessness and Poverty, Wayne State University, 71 W. Warren Ave., Detroit, MI 48202, 313-577-0962, pfowler@wayne.edu and Debra M. Hernandez Jozefowicz-Simbeni, MSW, PhD, School of Social Work, Wayne State University, 4756 Cass, Thompson Home, Room 314, Detroit, MI 48202.

This study examines the effect of exposure to community violence on school dropout among at-risk adolescents. Specifically, analyses were conducted to determine whether exposure to community violence predicts school dropout above and beyond other, empirically supported predictors of dropout. Participants were 209 homeless and housed adolescents aged 12 to 17 years. Data were obtained from a larger, longitudinal study of homeless and housed adolescents. A probability sampling design was used to obtain a representative sample of homeless youth living in shelters, in-patient and outpatient substance abuse treatment centers, psychiatric facilities, and street settings. A housed sample was obtained through peer nominations provided by the homeless adolescents. The Things I Have Seen or Heard scale measured exposure to community violence, including witnessing or being victimized by violence within participants' neighborhoods. School dropout was operationalized as not having a diploma or GED by age 19. Hierarchal regression controlled for differences in age, gender, ethnicity, and neighborhood income. Other predictors of school drop included adolescent substance abuse, illegal behavior, prior school problems, parental aggression, family conflict, and deviant peer association. Additionally, interactions between exposure to community violence and family aggression, deviant peer associations, as well as individual behavior problems were tested. Results suggested that exposure to community violence, as well as the interaction between community violence with other risk factors, predicts school drop out. Interventions aimed at youth in violent neighborhoods should recognize and address this risk factor. In addition, further research should identify protective factors among adolescents in violent neighborhoods.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will

• Understand how exposure to community violence impacts adolescents school dropout.

Keywords: Education, Risk Factors

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.