Exposure to violence and aggression: Protective roles of social support among urban African American youth

This cross-sectional study examined the impact of social support on the relation between exposure to violence and aggressive behavior, as reported by self, peers, and teachers. The main-effects and stress-buffering models of social support were tested for Parents, teachers, classmates, and close friends among 127 urban, African American youth. The results demonstrate the negative impact of violence exposure on aggressive behavior and the complex roles of social support in these relations. specifically, more perceived support from Parents, teachers, and close friends was associated with lower teacher-reported aggressive behavior, whereas classmate support buffered the impact of violence on peerreported aggressive behavior. These findings, multiple reporter differences, and implications for preventive interventions are discussed. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.