1
|
Ziminski D, Harmon-Darrow C, Westley-Henson K, Ross S. Exploring the Role of Fear, Civic Disengagement, and Economic Disenfranchisement Within Communities that Experience Gun Violence. Psychol Rep 2024:332941241269500. [PMID: 39096345 DOI: 10.1177/00332941241269500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
A growing body of research has documented how gun violence can affect mental and physical health outcomes among adults. Likewise, the literature is also beginning to reveal negative psychological effects related to distress and hypervigilance and sociological implications around diminished community engagement and economic opportunity. However, there remains a need to fully explore the role of fear related to the experience of gun violence. Through a qualitative inquiry consisting of community resident focus groups and community leader interviews, this study examined how participants' perceptions of fear related to their exposures to and experiences of gun violence. The findings highlight the pervasive emotional experience of existing in a fearful, distressed, and/or anxious state within certain communities, and how civic disengagement, neighborhood disconnection, and economic disenfranchisement exist in communities that disproportionately experience violence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Devon Ziminski
- School of Social Work, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs, Rutgers University - Camden, Camden, NJ, USA
- New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, School of Public Health, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | | | - Kiersten Westley-Henson
- Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs, Rutgers University - Cadmen, Camden, NJ, USA
- Department of Prevention Science, Rutgers University - Camden, Camden, NJ, USA
| | - Samuel Ross
- Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs, Rutgers University - Camden, Camden, NJ, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Semenza DC, Baker NS, Vil CS. Firearm Violence Exposure and Functional Disability among Black Men and Women in the United States. J Urban Health 2024; 101:522-534. [PMID: 38753136 PMCID: PMC11189861 DOI: 10.1007/s11524-024-00866-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
This study investigates the relationship between firearm violence exposure and functional health among Black adults in the United States (US). We examined associations between different forms of firearm violence exposure (direct, indirect, and community) and functional health with particular attention to differences across sex groups. We used survey data from a nationally representative sample of 3015 Black adult Americans to analyze associations between types of firearm violence exposure and four aspects of functional disability including: the ability to concentrate, walk/use stairs, dress/bathe, and run errands among males and females. The findings indicate notable disparities in exposure and health outcomes based on the exposure type and cumulative exposure to violence. Among males, functional disability was associated most closely with community violence exposure, while direct threats of firearm violence were most consequential for functional health among females. High cumulative exposure to firearm violence was linked to significant risks to functional health, particularly among females. The results shed light on sex differences in the repercussions of firearm violence exposure and emphasize its implications for daily functioning and health. This study contributes to the understanding of the multifaceted impacts of firearm violence on functional well-being and highlights the need for inclusive and culturally sensitive healing approaches based in community settings. There is a critical need for heightened awareness and strategies to enhance the well-being of those disproportionately affected by firearm violence in the US.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C Semenza
- Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice, Rutgers University - Camden, 405-7 Cooper Street, Camden, NJ, 08102, USA.
- Department of Urban-Global Public Health, Rutgers University - New Brunswick, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
- New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
| | - Nazsa S Baker
- New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Semenza DC, Silver IA, Stansfield R, Bamwine P. Local gun violence, mental health, and sleep: A neighborhood analysis in one hundred US Cities. Soc Sci Med 2024; 351:116929. [PMID: 38733888 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE Community gun violence significantly shapes public health and collective well-being. Understanding how gun violence is associated with community health outcomes like mental health and sleep is crucial for developing interventions to mitigate disparities exacerbated by violence exposure. OBJECTIVE This study examines the associations between community gun violence , insufficient sleep, and poor mental health across neighborhoods in the United States. METHODS We utilized a novel database covering nearly 16,000 neighborhoods in 100 US cities from 2014 through 2019. Correlated trait fixed-effects models were employed to conduct all analyses while considering various neighborhood covariates such as concentrated disadvantage, demographic composition, population density, and proximity to trauma centers. RESULTS Our analysis revealed that greater gun violence is associated with both insufficient sleep and poor mental health in subsequent years. There is a reciprocal relationship between poor mental health and insufficient sleep, with each partially mediating the other's association with community gun violence. Notably, gun violence exhibits the strongest direct association with poor sleep rather than with poor mental health. We found a consistent reciprocal relationship between sleep and mental health at the community level. CONCLUSIONS The findings highlight a complex interplay between community violence, sleep, and mental health, underlining the importance of reducing community violence through numerous long-term interventions to address health disparities across the US.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C Semenza
- Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice, Rutgers University - Camden, NJ, USA; Department of Urban-Global Public Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA; New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, Rutgers University, NJ, USA.
| | - Ian A Silver
- Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Richard Stansfield
- Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice, Rutgers University - Camden, NJ, USA
| | - Patricia Bamwine
- College of Social Work, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kottke TE, Pronk NP, Woodard C, Arena R. The Potential Influence of Firearm Violence on Physical Inactivity in the United States. Am J Med 2024; 137:426-432. [PMID: 38336085 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2024.01.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite broad recognition of the physical inactivity pandemic, little to no progress has been made in the past decade in mitigating the problem. The current analysis builds upon previous research into the drivers of physical inactivity to assess the potential interactions with firearm violence in the United States. METHODS We merged county-level data on firearm fatality rates, physical inactivity prevalence, the Social Vulnerability Index, and the American nations regional cultures schematic. RESULTS Counties with a physical inactivity prevalence currently above the federal government's 2030 goal (ie, ≥21.8%) had a significantly higher firearm fatality rate per 100,000 population. This finding was consistent for both the overall rate and race-based subgroups. The overall White, Hispanic, and Black firearm fatality rates were also significantly higher in the American nations group comprising Greater Appalachia, Deep South, El Norte, New France, and First Nation. Stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that the Social Vulnerability Index, American nations dichotomous grouping, and firearm fatality rate were all retained (P < .001) in predicting physical inactivity prevalence as a continuous variable. CONCLUSION In conclusion, the United States faces myriad health and societal challenges. Unhealthy lifestyles and gun violence are two of the leaders. The current analysis in conjunction with previous findings demonstrates that solving these challenges by interacting, create complexity to finding solutions that has not been thoroughly considered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicolaas P Pronk
- HealthPartners Institute, Minneapolis, Minn; Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Healthy Living for Pandemic Event Protection (HL - PIVOT) Network, Chicago, Ill
| | - Colin Woodard
- Nationhood Lab, Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy, Salve Regina University, Newport, RI
| | - Ross Arena
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Science, University of Illinois, Chicago; Healthy Living for Pandemic Event Protection (HL - PIVOT) Network, Chicago, Ill.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ziminski D. A social problem analysis of the 1993 Brady Act and the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1338722. [PMID: 38601502 PMCID: PMC11004240 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1338722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
In June 2022, the U.S. federal government passed its first major firearm policy since the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA). Summative content analysis was used to explore how the social problem of firearm violence was outlined in both policies, with the goal of extracting the social issue's definition from the policies' approaches to solving it. Both policies do not outline the various types of firearm violence, nor the disproportionate effect of firearm violence on certain populations. This work informs the role of federal policy in defining and monitoring firearm violence as a public health issue, identifying both individual and structural risk and protective factors from an asset-based lens, and allocating preventative efforts in communities that are most affected.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Devon Ziminski
- School of Social Work, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
- New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, School of Public Health, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Anestis MD, Moceri-Brooks J, Ziminski D, Barnes RT, Semenza D. Firearm Access and Gun Violence Exposure Among American Indian or Alaska Native and Black Adults. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e240073. [PMID: 38436959 PMCID: PMC10912965 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.0073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance American Indian or Alaska Native and Black adults experience elevated rates of firearm injury and death, but both groups are severely underrepresented in research on firearm exposure and behaviors. Objective To explore geodemographic differences in firearm behaviors and violence exposure among American Indian or Alaska Native and Black adults in the US. Design, Setting, and Participants In this survey study, nationally representative samples of American Indian or Alaska Native and/or Black adults recruited from KnowledgePanel were surveyed cross-sectionally. Surveys were administered online between April 12 and May 4, 2023. Main Outcomes and Measures Firearm access, storage, and carrying behaviors and lifetime firearm violence exposure were the primary outcomes. Demographic factors such as age, geographic location, and political affiliation were considered. Data were weighted to geodemographic distributions from the US Census Bureau's 2022 Current Population Survey. Results Of 3542 participants, 527 (14.9%) were American Indian or Alaska Native (280 [53.1%] female) and 3015 (85.1%) were Black (1646 [54.6%] female). Both groups exhibited high firearm access rates (American Indian or Alaska Native adults: 238 [45.4%; 95% CI, 39.4%-51.7%]; Black adults: 909 [30.4%; 95% CI, 28.0%-32.9%]), predominantly owning handguns for home protection. The groups demonstrated similar firearm storage patterns, and a substantial proportion endorsed always or almost always carrying firearms outside the home (American Indian or Alaska Native adults: 18.9%; Black adults: 15.2%). Self-protection was a common reason for carrying a firearm (American Indian or Alaska Native adults: 104 [84.9%; 95% CI, 74.1%-91.7%]; Black adults: 350 [88.3%; 95% CI, 82.3%-92.4%]), and a minority of participants cited lack of faith in the police (American Indian or Alaska Native adults: 19 [15.2%; 95% CI, 8.2%-26.7%]; Black adults: 61 [15.4%; 95% CI, 10.3%-21.2%]), indicating potential shifts in public safety dynamics. Conclusions and Relevance In this survey study of American Indian or Alaska Native and Black US adults, a substantial percentage of both groups reported living in homes with firearms, storing firearms loaded and unlocked, frequently carrying firearms outside the home, and having been exposed directly and indirectly to gun violence. These findings underscore the need for nuanced public health campaigns and policies and highlight challenges for law enforcement in contexts of racial disparities and changing legal frameworks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael D. Anestis
- New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway
- School of Public Health, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway
| | - Jayna Moceri-Brooks
- New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway
| | - Devon Ziminski
- New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway
- Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs, Rutgers University–Camden, Cinnaminson, New Jersey
| | - R. Thurman Barnes
- New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway
- School of Public Health, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway
| | - Daniel Semenza
- New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway
- School of Public Health, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway
- Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice, Rutgers University–Camden, Cinnaminson, New Jersey
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Semenza DC, Hamilton JL, Testa A, Jackson DB. Individual and cumulative firearm violence exposure: Implications for sleep among Black and American Indian/Alaska Native adults. Ann Epidemiol 2024; 91:18-22. [PMID: 38244953 DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2024.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE We investigated the relationship between various forms of firearm violence exposure and sleep problems among nationally representative samples of Black (N = 3015) and American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) (N = 527) adults, focusing on difficulties falling asleep, staying asleep, and waking too early. Survey data were collected in April and May 2023. METHODS We employed negative binomial regression models to analyze the associations between the different types of firearm violence exposure and sleep problems. We further examined associations between cumulative firearm violence exposure and sleep outcomes. RESULTS A substantial proportion of Black (59%) and AI/AN (56%) adults reported experiencing some form of firearm violence exposure. Being threatened with a firearm emerged as a consistent factor associated with sleep problems for both racial groups. Witnessing or hearing about shootings was linked to sleep problems in the Black sample, while cumulative firearm violence exposure was associated with all sleep problems in both groups. CONCLUSIONS Individual and cumulative firearm violence exposure is associated with increased sleep problems among Black and AI/AN adults.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C Semenza
- Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ, USA; Department of Urban-Global Public Health, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA; New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
| | | | - Alexander Testa
- Department of Management, Policy and Community Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Dylan B Jackson
- Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Maryland, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Gehris JS, Oyeyemi AL, Baishya ML, Roth SC, Stoutenberg M. The role of physical activity in the relationship between exposure to community violence and mental health: A systematic review. Prev Med Rep 2023; 36:102509. [PMID: 38116284 PMCID: PMC10728451 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Community violence is a global public health problem that is associated with mental health disorders. Physical activity can enhance mental health and may play an important role in the relationship between exposure to community violence and mental health. We systematically reviewed the literature to better understand the potential role of physical activity in this relationship. In this review, we searched the databases PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Central, PsycInfo, and SPORTdiscus, and conducted a grey literature search of one clinical trials registry and four organizations' websites. The review included quantitative observational studies, intervention studies, and qualitative studies published by November 30, 2022 and that involved generally healthy individuals across the lifespan. Eligible studies included measures of community violence, mental health, and physical activity. Five studies met the inclusion criteria for the review. Four studies were conducted in high-income countries, only two minority populations were represented in the studies, and none of the studies included older adults or children. Studies defined and measured community violence, mental health, and physical activity in different ways. In most studies, physical activity was not a primary focus but assessed as one item within a larger construct. The role of physical activity was examined differently across the studies and only one study found a significant role (mediator) of physical activity. This review revealed that few studies have specifically examined physical activity's role in the relationship between exposure to community violence and mental health. Further research is needed involving low-income countries, diverse minority populations, and children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey S. Gehris
- Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Public Health, Temple University, 1800 North Broad Street, 251 Pearson Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Adewale L. Oyeyemi
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, 425 North 5th Street, Arizona Biomedical Collaborative, Room 234, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Mona L. Baishya
- College of Public Health, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Temple University, 1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19130, USA
| | - Stephanie C. Roth
- Biomedical & Research Services Librarian, Temple University Health Sciences Library, 3500 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Mark Stoutenberg
- Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Public Health, Temple University, 1800 North Broad Street, 237 Pearson Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Semenza DC, Stansfield R, Silver IA, Savage B. Reciprocal Neighborhood Dynamics in Gun Violence Exposure, Community Health, and Concentrated Disadvantage in One Hundred US Cities. J Urban Health 2023; 100:1128-1139. [PMID: 37843742 PMCID: PMC10728405 DOI: 10.1007/s11524-023-00796-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Gun violence imparts a tremendous human and financial toll on local communities. Researchers have documented extensive mental and physical health consequences of generalized violence exposure but few studies have analyzed the particular impacts of gun violence on community well-being using nationally comprehensive data. We leverage a unique database of almost 16,000 neighborhoods in 100 US cities (2014-2019) to examine how year-over-year rates of gun violence correspond to overall neighborhood well-being and three aspects of community health: (1) health behaviors, (2) physical and mental health status, and (3) health prevention efforts. We simultaneously consider the reciprocal influence of neighborhood well-being on subsequent gun violence while accounting for concentrated disadvantage in communities. The results demonstrate that gun violence is associated with poorer community health in subsequent years, particularly health behaviors and mental/physical health status. Furthermore, we find substantial reciprocal effects for both gun violence and community health in their relationship to neighborhood concentrated disadvantage. These findings highlight the consequential role of gun violence in perpetuating cycles of harm in local communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C Semenza
- Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ, USA.
- Department of Urban-Global Public Health, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA.
- New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA.
| | - Richard Stansfield
- Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ, USA
| | - Ian A Silver
- Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Brielle Savage
- School of Criminal Justice, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Awaworyi Churchill S, Asante A. Neighbourhood crime and obesity: Longitudinal evidence from Australia. Soc Sci Med 2023; 337:116289. [PMID: 37832312 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Obesity remains a significant public health concern globally with over one billion adults projected to be obese by 2025. To better understand the drivers of obesity and to inform policy, it is important to explore the factors that influence obesity. OBJECTIVES The objective of this paper to examine if the crime rates in the neighbourhood or local area in which a person lives influences their likelihood of being obese. Thus, we seek to contribute to the literature on the determinants of obesity by asking the question: what is the effect of neighbourhood (i.e., postcode) crime on obesity? We also examine the pathways through which neighbourhood crime influences obesity with a focus on the role of social capital, physical activity and sleep quality. METHODS Using 14 waves of longitudinal data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey merged with official police statistics on crime rates at the postcode level, we apply identification strategies that address endogeneity arising from endogenous sorting and omitted variable bias. RESULTS We find that an increase in neighbourhood crime rates is associated with an increase in body mass index (BMI) and the likelihood of being obese. Exploring the pathways through which neighbourhood crime influences obesity, we find that social capital and physical activity are important channels, while sleep quality is not. The evidence also suggests that the effects of violent crime are more pronounced compared to property crime. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that targeting crime, and in particular violent crime, which seems to be driving the findings, is a core mechanism for reducing BMI and maintaining healthy body weight. The mediating role of physical activity and social capital also suggest that public policy can specifically target these areas by providing interventions that promote social capital and physical activity even amidst high crime rates.
Collapse
|
11
|
Semenza DC, Baker N, Ziminski D. Firearm violence exposure and health in 2 national samples of Black and American Indian/Alaska Native adults. HEALTH AFFAIRS SCHOLAR 2023; 1:qxad036. [PMID: 38756674 PMCID: PMC10986215 DOI: 10.1093/haschl/qxad036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Exposure to firearm violence is widespread and disproportionately experienced by communities of color, with implications for broad health disparities. Survey data were collected from 2 nationally representative samples of Black (n = 3015) and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) (n = 527) adults in the United States in April and May 2023. The exposure measures were 4 types of firearm violence exposure. The outcome measures were self-rated health, number of poor physical health days, and number of poor mental health days. Regression results demonstrate that being threatened with a firearm and hearing about or witnessing a shooting were associated with poorer self-rated, mental, and physical health across both samples. Cumulative exposure to firearm violence was particularly associated with increasing harms to health for all outcomes. In general, individual and cumulative firearm violence exposures are linked to poorer health among Black and AI/AN adults in the United States. Significant enhancements and long-term investment are needed for firearm violence prevention to yield improvements to population health, particularly among communities burdened with high levels of exposure to firearm violence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C Semenza
- Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ 08102, United States
- Department of Urban-Global Public Health, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States
- New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States
| | - Nazsa Baker
- New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States
| | - Devon Ziminski
- New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States
- School of Social Work, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, United States
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Magee LA, Lucas B, Fortenberry JD. Changing epidemiology of firearm injury: a cohort study of non-fatal firearm victimisation before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, Indianapolis, Indiana. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e059315. [PMID: 35321899 PMCID: PMC8943482 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine victimisation rates, geographic patterns and neighbourhood characteristics associated with non-fatal firearm injury rates before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN A retrospective cohort study. SETTING City of Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, 1 January 2017-30 June 2021. PARTICIPANTS Intentional non-fatal firearm injury victims from Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department records. The study included information on 2578 non-fatal firearm injury victims between ages 0 and 77 years. Of these victims, 82.5% were male and 77.4% were black. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES Rates of non-fatal firearm injuries per 100 000 population by victim age, race, sex and incident motive. Prepandemic and peripandemic non-fatal firearm injury rates. RESULTS Non-fatal shooting rates increased 8.60%, from 57.0 per 100 000 person-years in prepandemic years to 65.6 per 100 000 person-years during the pandemic (p<0.001). Rates of female victims (15.2 vs 23.8 per 100,000; p<0.001) and older victims (91.3 vs 120.4 per 100,000; p<0.001) increased significantly during the pandemic compared with the prepandemic period. Neighbourhoods with higher levels of structural disadvantage (IRR: 1.157, 95% CI 1.012 to 1.324) and prepandemic firearm injury rates (IRR: 1.001, 95% CI 1.001 to 1.002) was positively associated with higher rates of non-fatal firearm injuries during the pandemic, adjusting for neighbourhood characteristics. CONCLUSIONS Non-fatal firearm injuries increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among female and older victims. Efforts are needed to expand and rethink current firearm prevention efforts that both address the diversification of victimisation and the larger societal trauma of firearm violence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren A Magee
- O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Bailee Lucas
- O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - James Dennis Fortenberry
- Department of Adolescent Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Semenza DC, Stansfield R. Community gun violence and functional disability: An ecological analysis among men in four U.S. cities. Health Place 2021; 70:102625. [PMID: 34280714 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2021.102625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This study uses data on neighborhoods in four U.S. cities over five years to examine the relationship between fatal and non-fatal gun violence and rates of functional disability among men. Descriptive analyses indicate significant disparities in shooting rates across neighborhoods and heightened associated disability in high shooting communities. Multivariate results show that rates of non-fatal shootings correspond to greater functional disability among young men, but not older men. Fatal gun violence is not associated with increased community disability. The findings suggest that improvements in local gun violence prevention may serve to address broader community disparities in health and well-being.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C Semenza
- Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice, Rutgers University, Camden, United States.
| | - Richard Stansfield
- Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice, Rutgers University, Camden, United States
| |
Collapse
|