BACKGROUND: Community violence exposure (CVE) in adolescence is associated with poorer mental health although the situational factors that may impact on this relationship remain relatively unexplored. The present study aimed to investigate if the degree of perceived stress during CVE has an effect on future posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in youth, and if this association differs between females and males.

METHODS: Data were analyzed from 760 U.S. adolescents (mean age = 14.00 years), who participated in two surveys, one year apart. Information about CVE (witnessing violence and violence victimization) and the stress severity associated with it was collected in the first survey, whereas data on PTSD symptoms were obtained in the second survey. Generalized Linear Models were used to examine the associations that were also adjusted for ethnicity, age and socioeconomic status.

RESULTS: The results showed a longitudinal association between CVE-related stress and future PTSD symptoms, with students who had higher levels of perceived stress during CVE (witnessing or victimization) reporting higher PTSD symptom levels subsequently. There was no interaction between sex and CVE-related stress and PTSD symptoms, although females reported more PTSD symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS: The severity of the perceived stress associated with CVE should be regarded as a potentially important prognostic factor for identifying those who might develop PTSD symptoms after CVE and this may facilitate early intervention and treatment for those exposed to community violence.