Violent firearm-related conflicts among high-risk youth: An event-level and daily calendar analysis

Abstract

Firearm homicide is the leading cause of violence-related youth mortality. To inform prevention efforts, we analyzed event-level data to identify unique precursors to firearm conflicts. Youth (ages:14–24) seeking Emergency Department (ED) treatment for assault or for other reasons and reporting past 6-month drug use were enrolled in a 2-year longitudinal study. Time-line follow-back substance use/aggression modules were administered at baseline and each 6-month follow-up. Violent non-partner conflicts were combined across time-points. Regression analyzed: a)antecedents of firearm-related conflicts (i.e., threats/use) as compared to non-firearm conflicts; and b)substance use on conflict (vs. non-conflict) days for those engaged in firearm conflict. During the 24-months, we found that 421-youth reported involvement in violent non-partner conflict (n=829-conflicts;197-firearm/632-non-firearm). Among firearm conflicts, 24.9% involved aggression and 92.9% involved victimization. Retaliation was the most common motivation for firearm-aggression (51.0%), while “shot for no reason” (29.5%) and conflicts motivated by arguments over “personal belongings” (24.0%) were most common for firearm-victimization. Male sex (AOR=5.14), Black race (AOR=2.75), a ED visit for assault (AOR=3.46), marijuana use before the conflict (AOR=2.02), and conflicts motivated by retaliation (AOR=4.57) or personal belongings (AOR=2.28) increased the odds that a conflict involved firearms. Alcohol (AOR=2.80), marijuana (AOR=1.63), and prescription drugs (AOR=4.06) had a higher association with conflict (vs. non-conflict) days among youth reporting firearm conflict. Overall, we found that firearm conflicts are differentially associated with substance use and violence motivations. Addressing substance use, interrupting the cycle of retaliatory violence, and developing conflict resolution strategies that address escalation over infringement on personal belongings may aid in decreasing and preventing adolescent firearm violence.

Rates and correlates of risky firearm behaviors among adolescents and young adults treated in an urban emergency department

“…Research has largely focused on characterizing risk factors for firearm possession and carriage, identifying key correlates, including substance use, prior violence/fighting, mental health issues, peer delinquency, neighborhood violence exposure, and retaliatory attitudes (Carter et al, 2013;Bergstein et al, 1996;Cao et al, 2008;Dong and Wiebe, 2018;Sheley and Brewer, 1995;Sheley and Wright, 1993;Steinman and Zimmerman, 2003;Vaughn et al, 2012;Hemenway et al, 1996;Hemenway et al, 2011). While researchers have identified factors influencing upstream carriage behaviors, few have focused on higher-risk behaviors involving a firearm such as carriage in risky situations (e.g., while drunk/high), discharge in risky situations (e.g., during a crime), or use (e.g., threatening/firing at someone) (Branas et al, 2009;Carter et al, 2017). Furthermore, researchers have largely focused on school-or criminal-justice samples (Bergstein et al, 1996;Cao et al, 2008;Sheley and Brewer, 1995;Sheley and Wright, 1993;Steinman and Zimmerman, 2003;Vaughn et al, 2012;Hemenway et al, 1996;Hemenway et al, 2011), with few healthcare-based studies (Rowhani-Rahbar et al, 2015;Carter et al, 2015;Branas et al, 2009;Carter et al, 2017).…”

“…While researchers have identified factors influencing upstream carriage behaviors, few have focused on higher-risk behaviors involving a firearm such as carriage in risky situations (e.g., while drunk/high), discharge in risky situations (e.g., during a crime), or use (e.g., threatening/firing at someone) (Branas et al, 2009;Carter et al, 2017). Furthermore, researchers have largely focused on school-or criminal-justice samples (Bergstein et al, 1996;Cao et al, 2008;Sheley and Brewer, 1995;Sheley and Wright, 1993;Steinman and Zimmerman, 2003;Vaughn et al, 2012;Hemenway et al, 1996;Hemenway et al, 2011), with few healthcare-based studies (Rowhani-Rahbar et al, 2015;Carter et al, 2015;Branas et al, 2009;Carter et al, 2017). EDs are an important setting for violence prevention, especially since they provide access to A/YAs without primary care access, as well as those not in school or engaged in the justice system (Cunningham et al, 2009a).…”

“…As a secondary objective, we characterize rates/characteristics of defensive firearm behaviors. We hypothesized, based on socio-ecological and health behavior theories (Gielen and Sleet, 2003;Bronfenbrenner, 1979;Bronfenbrenner, 1977;Sallis et al, 2008), as well as the firearm carriage/violence (Rowhani-Rahbar et al, 2015;Carter et al, 2015;Hemenway et al, 2011;Carter et al, 2017;Oliphant et al, 2019) literature that A/YAs engaged in RFBs would report greater substance use (Carter et al, 2015;Carter et al, 2013;Dukarm et al, 1996;Carter et al, 2017;Allen and Lo, 2012), violence exposure/involvement (e.g., violent injuries, positive firearm attitudes, community violence) (Durant et al, 1995;DuRant et al, 1997;Carter et al, 2017;Oliphant et al, 2019;Allen and Lo, 2012;Beardslee et al, 2018;Molnar et al, 2004;Webster et al, 1993), criminal justice involvement (Carter et al, 2018;Vaughn et al, 2012;Carter et al, 2017;Williams et al, 2002), mental health symptoms (Cunningham et al, 2015a;Carter et al, 2015;Simon et al, 1998), and peer ownership/ carriage (Hemenway et al, 2011;Oliphant et al, 2019;Lizotte et al, 2000), as well as lower pro-social involvement (e.g., mentors, religious/school/community activities) (Oliphant et al, 2019;Zimmerman et al, 2002) and coping (Oliphant et al, 2019).…”

Distribuição espacial e perfil epidemiológico das notificações da violência contra a mulher em uma cidade do nordeste brasileiro

“…A violência contra a mulher tornou-se um fenômeno bastante discutido no campo científico por se tratar de um problema alarmante de Saúde Pública no mundo, graças ao seu poder ameaçador à sociedade, uma vez que provoca inúmeras injúrias físicas e psicológicas para a vítima e pessoas mais próximas 13 . Embora a literatura apresente, constantemente, pesquisas observacionais voltadas à prevalência da violência no Brasil, os achados apresentados neste artigo podem ser considerados pioneiros a nível regional, utilizando o banco de dados do SINAN, tendo em vista a possibilidade de apresentar dados estatísticos de forma mais visível, além de proporcionar a observação da influência de determinadas localidades sobre outras, em se tratando de proximidade.…”

Firearms and substance use: bringing synergy to counseling and intervention

“…Future studies should build upon Lu and Temple's findings by assessing ownership, access, and firearmrelated experiences with further granularity. Event-level and activity path data may offer unique insights into individual and situational factors that affect links between substance use and firearm-related behaviors among young adults (18,19). In addition, co-occurrence patterns must be followed over time to understand how dynamic trends in substance use impact these associations.…”