The Relationship Between Racism and Suicidal Thoughts Among Asian American Firearm Owners and Non-Owners

OBJECTIVE: Firearm suicides among Asian Americans rose significantly between 2018 and 2023, outpacing the increase in firearm suicides among Whites over the same period. Despite this rising risk, firearm suicide research and prevention efforts have rarely focused on Asian Americans. Our study compares the relationship between suicidal thoughts and personal experiences of racial discrimination between firearm owners and non-owners among Asian American adults. METHODS: Our study utilizes a nationwide cross-sectional online survey conducted among Asian Americans in July 2023 using a multi-sourced, non-probabilistic panel of U.S. adults. Eligible participants were aged 21 or older and could read English. A logistic regression model assessed the interaction between experiences of racial discrimination and firearm ownership on suicidal ideation, controlling for mental distress, alcohol use, and demographic variables for 729 survey respondents. RESULTS: The interaction between racism and firearm ownership was significant (OR = 2.60, C.I.=1.19-5.66). Simple slope analysis showed a stronger, positive association between experiences of racial discrimination and suicidal ideation among firearm owners (OR = 2.88, C.I.= 1.40-5.90) compared to non-owners (OR = 1.11, C.I.=0.80-1.54). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that the combination of racism-related stress and firearm ownership is linked to an elevated likelihood of suicidal ideation among Asian Americans. Attention to these co-occurring risks is critical for informing culturally responsive strategies for firearm suicide prevention within this population.