The role of psychofortigenic factors on the psychological sequelae after adolescent exposure to violence

This thesis addresses the role of psychofortigenic factors on the psychological sequelae of adolescents after the exposure to violence. The first article is a theoretical exposition of the effects of exposure to violence on children and adolescents. The second article is an empirical study regarding adolescent exposure to violence and its relationship to selected demographic variables. The final article empirically investigates the relationship between exposure to violence and traumarelated symptoms and explores the health-sustaining and stress-reducing roles of fortitude and sense of safety in adolescents. The findings indicate that adolescents report a high incidence of exposure to violence either as a victim or as a witness. Furthermore, significant relationships were found between the various subscales of violence and certain demographic variables. However, moderated regression analyses reported direct effects for fortitude on trauma-related symptoms and moderating effects for fortitude in respect to the impact of witnessing stranger violence. Regarding sense of safety, moderated regression analyses indicated direct effects but no significant moderating effects.