An Examination of the Effects of Race/Ethnicity and Social Class on Adolescents' Exposure to Violence

The study examined the influence of race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status on adolescents' exposure to violence in their families, schools and communities. The sample included a large racially/ethnically and socioecomically diverse group of high school students residing in urban and suburban areas. Findings revealed that this sample of students experienced/witnessed high rates as well as severe forms of violence in all three social settings. Overall, race/ethnicity and SES had negligible effects on exposure to family violence. However, race/ethnicity emerged as an important risk factor for exposure to school and community violence, even when the effects of SES were statistically controlled. The implications of the findings are discussed.