Firearm Violence Worry Associated With Adolescent Psychological Distress and Suicidal Ideation

A study published in Pediatrics examined associations between worry about experiencing firearm violence and mental health among California adolescents. Researchers conducted a cross-sectional analysis of a representative sample of 2,154 adolescents using 2021 and 2022 California Health Interview Survey data. Outcomes were past-month psychological distress and past-year suicidal ideation.

Overall, 39% reported worrying about experiencing firearm violence. Worry was associated with 1.6-fold higher odds of psychological distress and 1.7-fold higher odds of suicidal ideation. It was positively correlated with being female, diverse gender identity, lower socioeconomic status, frequent social media use, perceived neighborhood unsafety, firearm access, and knowing peers with firearms. Conversely, having a firearm at home and ever using a firearm were negatively correlated with worry.

The findings identify firearm-related worry as a potentially relevant context when assessing adolescent mental health. However, the cross-sectional design cannot establish causality or the temporal direction of these associations. The available abstract does not provide confidence intervals or specify adjustment variables, limiting assessment of precision and confounding. Generalizability beyond California is also uncertain.