%0 Journal Article
%T Vulnerability to Violence: A Contextually-Sensitive, Developmental Perspective on African American Adolescents
%J Journal of Social Issues
%D 2003
%A Spencer, Margaret Beale
%A Dupree, Davido
%A Cunningham, Matthew
%A Harpalani, Vinay
%A Munoz-Miller, Michèle
%V 59
%N 1
%P 33-49
%X Spencer's Phenomenological Variant of Ecological Systems Theory (PVEST) is presented as a theoretical framework to analyze potential effects of being a victim or co-victim of a violent crime. Data are presented from a sample of African American adolescents residing in a Southeastern metropolitan area. Victims (n = 20) and non-victims (n = 332) are compared on their self-reporting of clinical symptoms normally associated with violent or traumatic experience during middle childhood and early adolescence. Results suggest that observed symptomatology may not be solely attributable to actual victimization. Discussion includes possible mechanisms by which factors such as cognitive developmental status, physical and social context, and previous victimization of the adolescent or a family member of the adolescent can influence symptomatology.<p />
%G en
%I John Wiley and Sons
%@ 0022-4537
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1540-4560.t01-1-00003