Victimization in Young Urban Adults and Depressed Mood: Understanding the Interplay of Coping and Gender

• NCJ Number: 237823
• Journal: Violence and Victims Volume: 26 Issue: 3 Dated: 2011 Pages: 329-346
• Author(s): Sarah Hassan, B.A.; Laurissa Mallozzi, M.A.; Niti Dhingra, M.A.; Sara Chiara Haden, Ph.D.
• Date Published: 2011
• Length: 18 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study investigated the link between two types of violent victimization - physical assaults and verbal threats - among a sample of urban young adults, depression, and the different coping styles used by men and women.

Abstract

Violence exposure has a significant impact on victims' psychological well-being. This study examined the relationship between 2 types of violence exposures (threats and physical assaults), coping styles (emotion focused, avoidant, and problem focused), gender, and depression among 211 (147 females and 64 males) young urban adults (ages 18-24). Most participants (60 percent) endorsed being physically assaulted, whereas many (40 percent) endorsed being threatened. Hierarchical multiple regressions were conducted. As hypothesized, women reported using more emotion-focused coping and reported greater depression than men. Avoidant coping was a predictor for increased depression for both men and women. However, women who employed problem-focused coping after their first physical assault reported lower rates of depression. These findings have implications for designing early interventions. (Published Abstract)