Injury and anomie: Effects of violence in an inner-city community

M.T. Fullilove, V. Héon, W. Jimenez, C. Parsons, L.L. Green and R.E. Fullilove

American Journal of Public Health, 1998, vol. 88, issue 6, 924-927

Abstract: Objectives. Widespread violence affects individuals but also alters group life. This study was designed to examine the effects of violence on an inner city community. Methods. A qualitative study was undertaken that included field observation and semistructured interviews. The study took place in Washington Heights, a New York City neighborhood with a high rate of violence largely by secondary to the drug trade. Results. The 100 people interviewed differed widely in their definitions of violence and in their likelihood of having experienced violence acts in the course of daily life. High medium and low violence microenvironments were identified risk of exposure to violence, but not individual definitions of violence differed by location. Violence in all parts of the neighborhood inhibited social interactions but the intensity of this effect differed by microenvironment. Conclusions. In Washington Heights violence has injured individuals and fractured social relationships leading to the state of social disarray referred to as 'anomie.' The public health response to the violence epidemics should address anomie through community organizing efforts.

Date: 1998
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1998:88:6:924-927_5

Access Statistics for this article

American Journal of Public Health is currently edited by Alfredo Morabia

More articles in American Journal of Public Health from American Public Health Association
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Christopher F Baum ().