Violence exposure and mental health in adolescents: A systematic review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24265/Keywords:
violence, mental health, adolescents, polyvictimization, post-traumatic stressAbstract
Background: Adolescents exposed to violence are at increased risk for depressive symptoms and other negative mental health consequences such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress symptoms, emotional problems, conduct problems, and suicidal ideation. The association with adverse mental health outcomes is exacerbated by exposure to additional forms of violence, as well as the frequency or context in which the violence took place. The objective was to summarize the evidence from 2016 to 2026 on violence exposure and adolescent mental health. State of the art: We summarized the results of a systematic review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement. There were 20 included studies, 11 published between 2022 and 2026. In all sub-categories (population, study design, type of violence, psychological outcome, and methodological quality), depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress symptoms were the most frequently analyzed mental health outcomes. Polyvictimization and community violence were consistently related to poorer mental health outcomes. Family and social support were consistently associated with lower symptom burden. Conclusion: Violence exposure was associated with adolescent mental health outcomes. The diversity of methods used makes causal inference difficult.
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