Moderating Effects of Resilience, Self-Esteem and Social Support on Adolescents’ Reactions to Violence

This study examined the relation between exposure to violence and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) of adolescents and the moderator effects of resilience, self-esteem and social support. Measures of exposure to violence, resilience, self-esteem, social support and PTSD symptoms were administered on 280 secondary school adolescents randomly selected from Kwara state, Nigeria. Data were analysed using hierarchical multiple regression. Exposure to violence was positively related to PTSD. The relationship between exposure to violence and PTSD was moderated by resilience, self-esteem and social support such that the relationship was weaker for adolescents having higher levels of the moderators. The implications of the findings in terms of providing counselling interventions for the adolescents exposed to violence were discussed.