Primary Submission Category: Structural factors
The Long-term Mental Health Consequences of Childhood Gun Violence Exposure: Differences by Race/Ethnicity
Authors: Sicong Sun Darrell Hudson Hedwig Lee
Presenting Author: Sicong Sun*
Background. Gun violence has a negative impact on mental health. Little consensus exists regarding the relationship between gun violence exposure and its long-term mental health consequences across race/ethnicity. This study examines the long-term mental health consequences of childhood gun violence exposure in early to mid-adulthood.
Method. Data were drawn from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 97 (1997-2019). Gun violence exposure was self-reported by respondents whether they had been shot or had witnessed someone get shot before age 18. Mental health measures include mental health inventory, CES-D, and substance use behaviors, including self-reported heavy episodic drinking, daily cigarette smoking, and use of cannabis. Two-level mixed-effects models were performed.
Results. Weighted descriptive statistics show that 16.15% of the respondents have reported that they have been exposed to gun violence before the age of 18. This exposure varies by race/ethnicity: Non-Hispanic (NH) White: 11.84%; NH Black: 32.42%, and Hispanic: 19.82%. Exposure to gun violence significantly predicted worsened mental health status, depressive symptoms, and substance use behaviors in early and middle adulthood. Gun violence exposure was associated with a greater likelihood of heavy episodic drinking among NH Black sample, but not among White and Hispanic sample. Gun violence exposure was associated with a near tenfold likelihood of daily smoking among White sample, whereas the odds ratios were lower for Black and Hispanic respondents. Similar racial differences were observed for cannabis use. Gun violence was significantly associated with depressive symptoms among White and Hispanic sample, but not among Black sample.
Conclusion. Findings showed a high prevalence of childhood exposure to gun violence in a nationally representative youth cohort. Racial/ethnic differences were found in the relationship between childhood gun violence exposure and mental health outcomes.