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Urban Teen Perspectives on Gun Violence: a Mixed Methods Study

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Abstract

We aimed to explore perspectives of teenagers on their exposure to gun violence (GV), their knowledge and attitudes towards firearm injury prevention (FIP) efforts, and how to counsel them about FIP. Teens from two single-sex Bronx Catholic high schools participated in videoconferencing focus groups. Participants completed an online survey collecting demographic information and Likert-scale scoring of attitudes towards GV. Quantitative data was analyzed with descriptive statistics. Focus group discussions were recorded and transcribed. Using Dedoose, two investigators independently coded data and achieved consensus using content analysis. Six focus groups (3 from each school, n = 28 participants) were held from October–November 2020. A total of 27 participants completed the survey. Eighty-one percent of respondents agreed “Doctors should talk to teens about gun safety.” During focus groups, participants reported personal, community, and entertainment media exposure to GV. GV elicited many emotions, including fear and frustration. Teens identified factors contributing to GV that should be addressed, including poverty, racism, and mental illness. Most had not received prior FIP education and desired more information from trusted adults. They preferred discussions over written materials and information given over time. Teens were open to doctors counseling on FIP during healthcare visits and suggested including screening questions on surveys, conversations during healthcare maintenance visits, and classroom talks by physicians. Bronx teens are exposed to and distressed by community GV. They desired more FIP education, including physician counseling during healthcare visits. Next steps are to create and test FIP guidance for adolescents.

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Abbreviations

GV:

Gun violence

FIP:

Firearm injury prevention

USA:

United States of America

CDC:

Center for Disease Control

NYC:

New York City

PI:

Principal investigator

COVID-19:

Coronavirus Disease 2019

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the students who participated in these focus groups and who provided us with this valuable information. We appreciate the assistance of the administrators in the two schools who helped distribute information about this study to the student body. We would also like to thank Dr. Sarah Norris for establishing the community connection with the participating schools. This work was supported by the American Pediatrics Association 2019 Region II Young Investigators Award.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 3411 Wayne Avenue #851, 3415 Bainbridge Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10467, USA

    Ivy Tam, Eniola F. A. Yeates & Alyssa H. Silver

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  1. Ivy Tam
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  2. Eniola F. A. Yeates
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  3. Alyssa H. Silver
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Correspondence to Ivy Tam.

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Tam, I., Yeates, E.F. & Silver, A.H. Urban Teen Perspectives on Gun Violence: a Mixed Methods Study. J Urban Health 101, 1–10 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-023-00822-y

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