(United States) — In the face of rising concerns surrounding guns and gun violence in the United States, a groundbreaking study has been conducted to delve into the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs of the country’s youth on this critical issue.
Titled “U.S. Youth Attitudes on Guns, Quantitative Survey Findings Report and Preliminary Qualitative Focus Group Findings,” this comprehensive research, carried out by Everytown for Gun Safety, Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL), and the Southern Poverty Law Center, aims to shed light on a pressing question: What are young people’s perceptions of guns and gun violence in America?
The study, which took place primarily in 2022, provides valuable insights into the complex landscape of youth mental health and explores the reasons behind the alarming surge in gun violence, including mass shootings, in recent years.
Gun violence and guns and their effect on the mental health of young Americans
The study employed a multi-phase, mixed methods approach to comprehensively understand the attitudes of U.S. youth toward guns and gun violence. The research was spurred by the need to address the increasing prevalence of gun violence, the importance of youth mental health, and the lack of adequate research on how young people think and feel about firearms in the United States.
In its initial phase, the study involved a meticulous analysis of online gun-related content between October 2021 and February 2022. This analysis aimed to assess prominent gun narratives prevalent during that time. Following this, a quantitative survey was conducted, including a national sample of 4,156 youth aged 14-30, with 30.85% of respondents under 18.
The survey was conducted from September 16, 2022, to October 13, 2022, and yielded some significant findings.
Notably, an overwhelming majority of U.S. youth and young adults, accounting for 74% of the respondents, expressed their concern about gun violence, recognizing it as a serious problem.
Additionally, the study revealed that 42% of the surveyed youth reported having relatively easy access to guns, and a concerning 25% of them had experienced an active shooter lockdown. Shockingly, most of these young individuals personally knew someone who had been injured or killed by a firearm.
Gun violence and guns, and the fear of school shootings
The study also brought attention to the impact of gun violence on school safety and its association with adverse mental health outcomes. The fear of school shootings weighed heavily on the minds of the youth, leading to heightened levels of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and post-traumatic stress.
Moreover, the research shed light on the influence of certain beliefs on mental well-being. It was found that higher endorsement of male supremacist beliefs was correlated with increased mental distress and support for racist and anti-government ideas and higher exposure to gun-related media.
The preliminary qualitative findings from ongoing focus groups and interviews revealed fascinating insights into how youth perceive gun violence. While acknowledging the issue as a problem, many participants attributed it to individual actions, often referring to perpetrators as “criminal,” “irresponsible,” “mentally ill,” or “bad.”
The language used to describe these individuals was often racialized and classed, highlighting the complexities of societal perceptions.
The study also uncovered how youth differentiated between legitimate and illegitimate uses of guns. While self-defense against “home invaders,” hunting, and target shooting was seen as legitimate purposes, the perceptions were shaped by ideologies surrounding geography and urban-rural differences.
Additionally, the research indicated that young, white, cisgender boys and men frequently had their first experiences with guns through gendered bonding activities like hunting with family and friends.
Implications and future directions
The implications drawn from this study are vital in addressing the issue of gun violence among youth in the United States. Safety, mental illness, and geography emerged as significant factors that need further exploration. To deepen our understanding, the researchers advocate using longitudinal and ethnographic methods in future analysis.
For minors, the study emphasizes the importance of reducing gun access and increasing access to mental health care to curb the impact of gun violence. However, it is equally crucial to address supremacist and antidemocratic ideologies that justify and rationalize violence and the use of guns as tools to facilitate such violence.
EXTERNAL LINK → Read the full study
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