Adolescent Worry About Experiencing Firearm Violence and Its Association With Mental Health

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations between worrying about experiencing firearm violence, past-month psychological distress, and past-year suicide ideation among California adolescents. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of a representative California adolescent sample (n = 2154), using 2021 and 2022 California Health Interview Survey data. The predictor is worrying about experiencing firearm violence, and outcomes are past-month psychological distress and past-year suicide ideation. RESULTS: Thirty-nine percent of California adolescents reported worrying about experiencing firearm violence, which was positively correlated with several characteristics: female, diverse gender identity, lower socioeconomic status, frequent social media use, perceiving unsafe neighborhood, having access to firearms, and knowing peers who have a firearm. In contrast, worrying about experiencing firearm violence was negatively correlated with having a firearm at home and ever using a firearm. Worrying about experiencing firearm violence was associated with 1.6 times greater odds of past-month psychological distress and 1.7 times greater odds of past-year suicide ideation. CONCLUSIONS: Among California adolescents, worrying about experiencing firearm violence is relatively common and associated with a higher risk of psychological distress and suicide ideation.