Preschool children's exposure to violence: relation of behavior problems to parent and child reports.

A group of 155 parents and their preschool children attending Head Start reported on the children's exposure to community violence, level of distress symptoms, and behavioral problems. The behavioral correlates of exposure were found to differ according to exposure modality: internalizing problems were more likely in children who witnessed violence, and externalizing problems in those victimized by violence. Issues regarding self-reports by preschool children are highlighted, and clinical and research implications discussed.