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01-05-2021 | Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder | Original Paper

Community Violence, PTSD, Hopelessness, Substance Use, and Perpetuation of Violence in an Urban Environment

Authors: Uma Raman, Philip A. Bonanno, Devika Sachdev, Aparna Govindan, Atharva Dhole, Oluwafeyijimi Salako, Jay Patel, Lama R. Noureddine, Jessica Tu, Jenieve Guevarra-Fernández, Ashley Leto, Christopher Nemeh, Aesha Patel, Alexis Nicheporuck, Ashley Tran, Cheryl A. Kennedy

Published in: Community Mental Health Journal | Issue 4/2021

Abstract

We investigated the relationships among chronic violence exposure, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity, hopelessness, substance use, and perpetuation of violence to facilitate the development of trauma-related interventions for residents of Newark, NJ. A convenience sample of Newark residents (N = 153) was recruited from community centers during various events in 2016–2017. Anonymous, self-report survey measures included a PTSD screen (PCL-C), Beck’s Hopelessness Scale, the CAGE questionnaire, and a CDC Health Behavior Scale. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlations, Chi square analyses, logistic, and linear regressions were used for analysis. Thirty percent (95% CI [22.7, 37.4]) of our sample screened positive for PTSD. Drug and alcohol use, fighting, and hopelessness were related to severity of PTSD symptoms (p < 0.05). Female gender, CAGE scores, and hopelessness predicted the severity of PTSD symptoms (R² = 0.354, p < 0.05). Our data has informed the development of a resilience support group currently in the pilot stage for community members.

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Title: Community Violence, PTSD, Hopelessness, Substance Use, and Perpetuation of Violence in an Urban Environment
Authors: Uma Raman
Philip A. Bonanno
Devika Sachdev
Aparna Govindan
Atharva Dhole
Oluwafeyijimi Salako
Jay Patel
Lama R. Noureddine
Jessica Tu
Jenieve Guevarra-Fernández
Ashley Leto
Christopher Nemeh
Aesha Patel
Alexis Nicheporuck
Ashley Tran
Cheryl A. Kennedy
Publication date: 01-05-2021
Publisher: Springer US
Keyword: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Published in: Community Mental Health Journal / Issue 4/2021
Print ISSN: 0010-3853
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2789
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-020-00691-8

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Community Violence, PTSD, Hopelessness, Substance Use, and Perpetuation of Violence in an Urban Environment

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