TY - JOUR
T1 - Annual Research Review
T2 - Youth firearm violence disparities in the United States and implications for prevention
AU - Bottiani, Jessika H.
AU - Camacho, Daniel A.
AU - Lindstrom Johnson, Sarah
AU - Bradshaw, Catherine P.
N1 - Funding Information:
The research reported here was supported by a grant to the first author by the William T. Grant Foundation, and grants to the last author by the National Institute of Justice (Grant 2015-CK-BX-0023) and the National Institute for Minority Health and Health Disparities (Grant R01MD013808-01). The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent views of the funders. This research was conducted by four researchers with academic appointments at R1 universities in the United States (University of Virginia, Johns Hopkins University, and Arizona State University). J.H.B. is a health disparities scientist, D.C. is a counseling psychologist, S.L.J. is a prevention scientist, and C.P.B. is a developmental psychologist. Their disciplinary training and positions in university research settings may shape the selection of studies presented in this review in favoring empirical work published in high impact, peer-reviewed, quantitatively focused health and psychological journals. They recognize attention to qualitative literature is also merited. In addition, J.H.B., S.L.J., and C.P.B. are White cisgender women and D.C. is an ethnically mixed (Latinx and White) cisgender man. Our racial, ethnic, and gender identities may limit our capacity to represent viewpoints of marginalized communities most impacted by gun violence, which in turn may influence the conclusions we draw from our work. The authors have declared that they have no competing or potential conflicts of interest. Key points Youth firearm mortality is higher in the United States than most other nations in the world. Black boys and young men ages 15–24 shoulder a staggering excess of firearm homicide fatalities. Indigenous and White boys and young men ages 15–24 in rural areas are disproportionately at risk of suicide. Structural racism and U.S. gun culture explain disparities in firearm homicide and suicide. Preventive intervention needs to address structural and sociocultural root causes of firearm violence disparities with attention to developmental timing and impacts over the life course. Youth firearm mortality is higher in the United States than most other nations in the world. Black boys and young men ages 15–24 shoulder a staggering excess of firearm homicide fatalities. Indigenous and White boys and young men ages 15–24 in rural areas are disproportionately at risk of suicide. Structural racism and U.S. gun culture explain disparities in firearm homicide and suicide. Preventive intervention needs to address structural and sociocultural root causes of firearm violence disparities with attention to developmental timing and impacts over the life course.
Funding Information:
The research reported here was supported by a grant to the first author by the William T. Grant Foundation, and grants to the last author by the National Institute of Justice (Grant 2015‐CK‐BX‐0023) and the National Institute for Minority Health and Health Disparities (Grant R01MD013808‐01). The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent views of the funders. This research was conducted by four researchers with academic appointments at R1 universities in the United States (University of Virginia, Johns Hopkins University, and Arizona State University). J.H.B. is a health disparities scientist, D.C. is a counseling psychologist, S.L.J. is a prevention scientist, and C.P.B. is a developmental psychologist. Their disciplinary training and positions in university research settings may shape the selection of studies presented in this review in favoring empirical work published in high impact, peer‐reviewed, quantitatively focused health and psychological journals. They recognize attention to qualitative literature is also merited. In addition, J.H.B., S.L.J., and C.P.B. are White cisgender women and D.C. is an ethnically mixed (Latinx and White) cisgender man. Our racial, ethnic, and gender identities may limit our capacity to represent viewpoints of marginalized communities most impacted by gun violence, which in turn may influence the conclusions we draw from our work. The authors have declared that they have no competing or potential conflicts of interest. Key points
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.
PY - 2021/5
Y1 - 2021/5
N2 - Objective: Research 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. Method: Applying 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. Results: The 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. Conclusions: More 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.
AB - Objective: Research 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. Method: Applying 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. Results: The 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. Conclusions: More 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.
KW - Adolescence
KW - firearm violence
KW - prevention
KW - racial disparities
KW - socio-cultural influence
KW - structural inequality
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U2 - 10.1111/jcpp.13392
DO - 10.1111/jcpp.13392
M3 - Review article
C2 - 33797082
AN - SCOPUS:85103409903
SN - 0021-9630
VL - 62
SP - 563
EP - 579
JO - Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines
JF - Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines
IS - 5
ER -