Youths Beliefs About Guns: Exploring Their Impact on Offensive and Defensive Gun Behaviors

This study explored the association between youth gun beliefs, behaviors, and violence. Hierarchical regression examined whether gun beliefs predicted defensive and offensive gun behaviors and gun violence. The EFA confirmed gun belief subscales and indicated two gun behavior subscales. Emotional risk beliefs were negatively related to all outcomes, social perception related to defensive behavior, gun presence related to offensive behavior, and neighborhood concerns related to gun violence. The results validate the gun belief subscales for youths and differentiate gun behaviors which aids understanding. This study provides novel insight into the link between youth gun beliefs and behaviors. It suggests interventions to reduce gun presence, challenge positive gun perceptions, and enhance awareness of gun dangers can decrease youth gun violence.