Abstract
This study explores the impact of violence exposure on the mental health of the adolescents in a rural small town. A structured questionnaire was used to survey 347 adolescents. Violence experienced and witnessed by the adolescents at school, in the neighbourhood, and at home was measured. Mental health was represented by the psychiatric symptoms, depression level, and self-esteem. The level of violence perpetrated by the adolescents was also explored. Results of the multiple regression analysis show that adolescents who have been exposed to more violence, either as a victim or as a witness, report more psychiatric symptoms, higher levels of depression, and more problems of self-esteem. Being a witness of violence also contributes significantly to the variance of violence committed by the adolescents. The implications of the findings to violence prevention are discussed in the conclusion.
Résumé
Cette étude examine l’impact de la violence par rapport à la santé mentale des adolescents d’une petite ville rurale. Un questionnaire structuré fut utilisé pour sonder 347 adolescents. La violence qu’éprouvent et que témoignent les adolescents à l’école, dans leurs quartiers, et au foyer, fut mesurée. La santé mentale est représentée par les symptômes psychiatriques, le niveau de dépression psychologique, et l’estime de soi. Le niveau de violence commise par l’adolescent fut aussi exploré. Les résultats de l’analyse de régression multiple démontrent que les adolescents qui ont été touchés par plus de violence, soit en tant que victimes soit en tant que témoins, rapportent plus de symptômes psychiatriques, des niveaux plus élevés de dépression psychologique, et plus de problèmes d’estime de soi. Le fait d’être témoin d’actes violents contribue de facon significative à la variance de la violence commise par l’adolescent. Les implications des résultats en ce qui concerne la prévention sont discutées.
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