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Children’s Exposure to Community Violence
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About Children’s Exposure to Community Violence
Scale Name
Children’s Exposure to Community Violence
Author Details
John E. Richters and Pedro Martinez (1990)
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Children’s Exposure to Community Violence scale, developed by John E. Richters and Pedro Martinez in 1990, is a youth-report questionnaire designed to measure the frequency of exposure to violence (through sight and sound) in one’s home and neighborhood. Targeting African-American males aged 12-16 in urban settings, the scale was developed to assess the impact of community violence on youth mental health and behavior. Cited in Dahlberg et al. (2005), it aligns with stress and trauma theories (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984), evaluating how witnessing or hearing violent events (e.g., shootings, assaults) contributes to psychological distress and behavioral outcomes.
The scale comprises 20 items rated on a 5-point frequency scale (0 = “never” to 4 = “almost always”). Examples include “I have seen someone get shot” and “I have heard gunshots in my neighborhood.” Scores are summed (range: 0-80), with higher scores indicating greater exposure to violence. Validated primarily in African-American male urban samples, it is used to assess trauma exposure, predict mental health outcomes (e.g., PTSD, anxiety), and inform interventions for at-risk youth.
Psychologists, trauma researchers, and public health professionals use the scale to evaluate violence exposure, study its psychological impact, and design prevention programs. Its strong reliability and focus on sensory exposure are strengths, but its specific demographic focus (African-American males) and English-only availability may limit generalizability and cross-cultural use.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the scale from authorized sources, such as Dahlberg et al. (2005) Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Influences Among Youths or related publications, ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses exposure to violence to support youth well-being, emphasizing anonymity and using age-appropriate, non-judgmental language sensitive to trauma.
- Provide instructions, asking youths to rate the frequency of witnessing or hearing violent events in their home or neighborhood over the past year, using the 5-point scale.
- Approximate time for completion is 5-7 minutes, given the 20-item format.
- Administer in a school, clinical, or research setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private and supportive environment. Oral administration or assistance is recommended for youths with reading difficulties or emotional distress.
Reliability and Validity
The Children’s Exposure to Community Violence scale demonstrates strong psychometric properties, as reported in Dahlberg et al. (2005). Internal consistency is high, with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.84, indicating excellent item cohesion. Test-retest reliability is not reported, but stability is inferred to be moderate to high based on similar trauma exposure measures (r ≈ 0.60-0.80 over weeks).
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with related constructs, such as increased PTSD symptoms (r ≈ 0.30-0.50), anxiety (r ≈ 0.20-0.40), and behavioral problems (r ≈ 0.15-0.35). Discriminant validity is evidenced by weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, like academic performance (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is demonstrated by its ability to predict mental health outcomes in studies of urban youth. Factor analyses are not detailed, but the scale’s unidimensional focus on violence exposure supports construct validity. The high reliability makes it robust, though pairing with parent or teacher reports can enhance accuracy.
Available Versions
12-Items
Reference
Dahlberg, L. L., Toal, S. B., Swahn, M. H., & Behrens, C. B. (2005). Measuring violence-related attitudes, behaviors, and influences among youths: A compendium of assessment tools. Centers for disease control and prevention.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Children’s Exposure to Community Violence scale measure?
It measures the frequency of youth exposure to violence in their home and neighborhood.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, trauma researchers, and public health professionals studying African-American males aged 12-16.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 5-7 minutes.
Is the scale specific to certain groups?
It targets African-American males aged 12-16 in urban settings.
Can the scale inform interventions?
Yes, it supports trauma interventions with strong reliability (α = 0.84).
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