Examining Long-Term Mental Health Outcomes Associated with Childhood Gun Violence Exposure: Variations by Race/Ethnicity and Gender

This study examined the long-term mental health outcomes associated with childhood gun violence exposure by race/ethnicity and gender. Data were drawn from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (1997-2021). Gun violence exposure was measured as any exposure before age 18. Mental health outcomes assessed included depressive symptoms, heavy episodic drinking, and daily cigarette smoking. Hierarchical generalized linear models were used. Findings indicate that about 16.15% of the respondents reported childhood exposure to gun violence before the age of 18. Gun violence exposure was significantly associated with depressive symptoms among white men, white women, and Hispanic women. Additionally, it was associated with higher odds of heavy episodic drinking among Black men, white women, and Hispanic women. Gun violence exposure was associated with higher odds of daily smoking for all groups. The study findings suggest that there is a high prevalence of childhood exposure to gun violence in the U.S. The relationship between childhood gun violence exposure and adult mental health outcomes varies by race/ethnicity and gender. These results highlight the need for gun violence preventions and interventions tailored to specific demographic groups to address the long-term mental health consequences of childhood gun violence exposure.