First-grade child risk behaviors for community violence exposure in middle school

This study examined behavioral indicators (measured by multiple informants) of young urban children's exposure to community violence during middle school. The community-based school sample included 549 students (53% male; 86.8% African American, 13.2% Euro American). First-grade agressive behavior and anxiety symptoms were examined as predictors of later victimization and witnessing of community violence. Logistic regression analyses indicated that girls' first-grade aggression significantly predicted witnessing violence in middle school, regardless of informant. Parent-reported child aggression significantly predicted boys' later victimization. Teacher- and parent-reported child aggression was associated with witnessing more community violence among boys with low self-reported anxiety. Anxiety attenuated the relationship between aggression and witnessing community violence during adolescence for boys. The importance of the identifying early predictors of later community violence exposure in designing preventive interventions is discussed.