Annual Research Review: Youth firearm violence disparities in the United States and implications for prevention

Abstract

ObjectiveResearch has identified the United States (U.S.) as a global outlier in its firearm ownership rates, with a correspondingly higher risk of youth firearm violence compared to other countries. The relative extent of disparities in youth firearm violence within the U.S. has been less clear. Little is known about factors in the social ecology driving these disparities and whether current firearm violence prevention approaches sufficiently address them.MethodApplying a health disparities framework, we synthesized epidemiological, sociological, and prevention science literatures, emphasizing structural inequalities in youth sociocultural positionality in life course developmental context. We also highlighted findings from national injury data and other studies regarding the magnitude and impacts of youth firearm violence disparities.ResultsThe burden of firearm violence varied markedly at intersections of gender, race, place, developmental stage, and homicidal or suicidal intent. Firearm homicide among Black boys and young men (ages 15‐24) was at outlier levels ‐ many times greater than the rates of any other demographic group, developmental stage, or violence intent, particularly in urban settings. Recent research has operationalized structural racism and implicated historically racialized spaces as a root cause of this disparity. In contrast, elevated firearm suicide rates were found among Native and White boys and young men in rural settings; firearm‐related cultural attitudes and gender socialization were points of consideration to explain these disparities. We highlighted research‐based youth firearm violence preventive interventions, and emphasized gaps in efforts focused on structural and sociocultural factors.ConclusionsMore explicit attention to reducing firearm homicide among Black boys and young men and firearm suicide among Native and rural White boys and young men is urgently needed and has potential to substantially lower overall rates of firearm violence in the U.S.

Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms among Assault-injured Youth: Parallel Process Models Addressing Comorbidity

“…Youth experience complex adversities due to the intersection of the systemic and structural barriers which contribute to their marginalization. Residence in violent communities, SES disparities, and stressful life events are experiences that may not be captured or addressed in traditional services, and this is especially harmful to Black youth (Bottiani et al, 2021), who face additionally face heightened prevalence for experiencing racial discrimination, or unfair treatment on the basis of race (Williams et al, 2003). Thus, a sociocultural lens to trauma informed care is needed that addresses historical inequities, cultural considerations, and health and social disparities (Blitz et al, 2016).…”

Mental health outcomes from direct and indirect exposure to firearm violence: A cohort study of nonfatal shooting survivors and family members

“…One mother noted a lack of safety after the shooting of her son, stating her son being shot was synonymous with her being shot, as she constantly worried the offender would shoot her next (Perfetti et al, 2022). Exposure to such a traumatic event can increase the risk of developing PTSD and other trauma related symptoms (Bottiani et al, 2021;Turner et al, 2019).…”

Gun Homicide Research: What We Know and Where We Need to Go

“…Structural determinants of health such as current-day racial residential segregation and structural racism have been associated with increased gun homicide rates (Bottiani et al, 2021; Houghton et al, 2021; Knopov et al, 2019; Wong et al, 2020), but some gun homicide researchers have also looked further back in time to analyze associations between gun violence and historical policies and practices. Notably, significant associations have been found between current-day gun violence rates and the historical, racialized housing discrimination practice of redlining (Benns et al, 2020; Jacoby et al, 2018).…”