OBJECTIVE Cumulative violence exposure has been associated with both internalising and externalising difficulties in youth. Therefore, it is important to identify protective factors that may ameliorate both exposure to and the impact of cumulative violence. This study aimed to identify sources of perceived social support amongst early adolescents in a low-income, high-violence community in South Africa, and to examine the association of perceived support with exposure to violence and with the severity of depression, aggression and conduct disorder symptoms. METHOD A sample of 615 Grade 7 learners completed measures of perceived social support, different types of violence exposure and symptoms of depression, aggression and conduct disorder. RESULTS Maternal, paternal and overall family support were weakly associated with a reduced risk of domestic violence, but not with other forms of violence exposure, and were also weakly associated with a reduced risk of mental health difficulties. Peer support was associated with higher symptomatology across all mental health outcomes while teacher support was associated with greater severity of depression. CONCLUSIONS The stress-buffering effects of social support may not be maintained in contexts of high exposure to violence. Implications for interventions to enhance youth safety and resilience in high-violence contexts are considered.

中文翻译：

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南非青年中的社会支持，暴力暴露和心理健康。

目的累积性暴力暴露与青年人的内在化和外在化困难有关。因此，重要的是确定保护性因素，这些因素既可以减轻暴力侵害的风险，又可以减轻暴力累积的影响。这项研究旨在确定南非低收入，高暴力社区中青少年感知的社会支持的来源，并研究感知的支持与暴力暴露以及抑郁，侵略和行为障碍的严重程度之间的关系。症状。方法615名7年级学习者的样本完成了感知的社会支持，不同类型的暴力暴露以及抑郁，侵略和行为障碍症状的测量。结果产妇，父亲和家庭的总体支持与减少家庭暴力的风险有弱联系，但与其他形式的暴力暴露却没有关系，也与减少精神健康困难的风险有弱联系。在所有心理健康结局中，同伴支持与较高的症状相关，而教师支持与抑郁的严重程度相关。结论在高度暴露于暴力的情况下，可能无法维持社会支持的压力缓冲作用。考虑了在高暴力情况下采取干预措施以增强青年人的安全和复原力的含义。在所有心理健康结局中，同伴支持与较高的症状相关，而教师支持与抑郁的严重程度相关。结论在高度暴露于暴力的情况下，可能无法维持社会支持的压力缓冲作用。考虑了在高暴力情况下采取干预措施以增强青年人的安全和复原力的意义。在所有心理健康结局中，同伴支持与较高的症状相关，而教师支持与抑郁的严重程度相关。结论在高度暴露于暴力的情况下，可能无法维持社会支持的压力缓冲作用。考虑了在高暴力情况下采取干预措施以增强青年人的安全和复原力的含义。