Damaged youth: prevalence of community violence exposure and implications for adolescent well‐being in post‐conflict Northern Ireland

Abstract

As Northern Ireland transitions to a post‐conflict society the nature of violent victimization and its influence on adolescents following the “Troubles” becomes an even more important area of interest. Adolescents are particularly at risk of victimization and associated social, emotional, and psychological health problems. In this analysis of the fifth year of the Belfast Youth Development Study (BYDS), the prevalence and implications of exposure to violence is examined for a sample of 3,828 young people (aged 15–16 years). Knowledge of violent events was particularly prevalent suggesting that the social and psychological legacy of the “Troubles” may pass onto post‐conflict generations. Over three quarters of young people had experienced violence within their community. Exposure was associated with higher levels of depression, psychotic symptoms, and substance misuse. The findings suggest that adolescents in Northern Ireland are vulnerable to both direct and vicarious victimization, and, subsequently, to significant risks to psychological well‐being. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Survivors of Political Violence: Conceptualizations, Empirical Findings, and Ecological Interventions

“…A common way to operationalize political violence in studies exploring the experiences of survivors is to measure levels of exposure to traumatic events (e.g., Basoglu et al 1994;Goenjian et al 2000;McAloney et al 2009;Snider et al 2004;Punamaki 1990;Jones and Kafetsios 2005). Researchers' choices of instruments indicate that there is no commonly accepted measure to assess exposure to political violence.…”

“…Violence of a political nature is sometimes inflicted upon communities in sectarian conflicts that politically advance religious ideologies (Cummings et al 2009;McAloney et al 2009). Political violence also includes international political violence that is manifested through temporary or prolonged invasion of another country, sabotage, assassination of foreign rulers, terrorist activities, and embargoes (Hill 1997).…”

“…Researchers' choices of instruments indicate that there is no commonly accepted measure to assess exposure to political violence. Some authors adopt scales developed in previous studies (e.g., Haj-Yahia 2008;Kerestes 2006) while others revise and adapt them (e.g., Jones and Kafetsios 2005;McAloney et al 2009;Paardekooper et al 1999). For example, McAloney et al (2009) andPaardekooper et al (1999) drew on scales from the 'Harvard Trauma Questionnaire' in order to assess experiences of political violence in samples of children.…”

“…Some authors adopt scales developed in previous studies (e.g., Haj-Yahia 2008;Kerestes 2006) while others revise and adapt them (e.g., Jones and Kafetsios 2005;McAloney et al 2009;Paardekooper et al 1999). For example, McAloney et al (2009) andPaardekooper et al (1999) drew on scales from the 'Harvard Trauma Questionnaire' in order to assess experiences of political violence in samples of children. The measurement used by McAloney et al (2009) comprised nine experiences categorized into three types of violent events: knowledge of violence, witnessing violence and direct victimization.…”

“…For example, McAloney et al (2009) andPaardekooper et al (1999) drew on scales from the 'Harvard Trauma Questionnaire' in order to assess experiences of political violence in samples of children. The measurement used by McAloney et al (2009) comprised nine experiences categorized into three types of violent events: knowledge of violence, witnessing violence and direct victimization.…”