Effects of community violence on inner-city preschoolers and their families

The current study examined the extent to which preschoolers and their families are exposed to neighborhood violence, and it explored the possible impact of this exposure on young children. Mothers were interviewed about their family demography, exposure to violence, conflict in the home, and their children's distress symptoms. Children were observed during free play with peers and were given a cognitive assessment. Teachers rated children's social competence with peers. Results of path analyses suggested a link between families' exposure to community violence and a reduction in children's positive peer interaction and cognitive performance. The findings suggest that even very young children may not be "immune" to the effects of neighborhood violence.