Violence Exposure, Aggressive Cognitions & Externalizing Behaviors among Colombian Youth: The Moderating Role of Community Belongingness

Limited work has focused on understanding mechanisms through which violence negatively impacts youth outcomes. The present study investigates how three different facets of exposure (witnessing violence, victimization and armed conflict) relate to Colombian externalizing behaviors via the indirect influence aggressive cognitions moderating role community belongingness. Data were from a sample students ( N = 3,483) in public high schools Colombia. Findings indicated all positively associated with behaviors. Armed conflict witnessing predicted effect cognitions. Community belongingness moderated association between Results highlight need for risk protective factors contextual lens. as resilience factor is discussed, such it implications intervention programs targeting at greater exposure.