Validation of a screening instrument for exposure to violence in African American children.

OBJECTIVE To provide concurrent validity data for the KID-SAVE as a screening instrument for exposure to violence in African American children, to explore demographic differences in KID-SAVE scores, and to provide preliminary reliability data on a parent version of the KID-SAVE. METHOD Questionnaire data were collected regarding exposure to violence, children's behavior and symptoms, and family aggression. A sample of 182 children and their parents participated. RESULTS Both parent and child report of violence exposure was significantly related to the child's psychological adjustment as endorsed by both parents and children. Also, significant relationships were obtained between parent report of their child's exposure to violence and the presence of family violence. CONCLUSIONS The KID-SAVE appears to be a promising instrument for the assessment of exposure to violence, specifically in African American children, and may be applicable in a variety of clinical settings.