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Characteristics and behavioral risk factors of firearm-exposed youth in an urban emergency department
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Characteristics and behavioral risk factors of firearm-exposed youth in an urban emergency department

Ruth Abaya, Tita Atte, Joanna Herres, Guy Diamond and Joel A. Fein
Journal of behavioral medicine, v 42(4), pp 603-612
15 Aug 2019
PMID: 31367926

Abstract

Article Family Medicine General General Practice Health Psychology Medicine Medicine & Public Health
Assessing firearm access among adolescents with behavioral health risk factors is important for the primary prevention of suicide and interpersonal violence. We describe self-reported firearm access and the associated behavioral risk factors and demographic characteristics in a cross-sectional study conducted in the emergency department of an urban pediatric hospital from June 2013 to June 2014. A total of 2258 adolescents received a behavioral health survey to assess access to firearms inside and outside the home, mental health symptoms, and risk behaviors. One of 6 patients in our sample (15%) endorsed access to a firearm. Male gender, lifetime alcohol use, lifetime marijuana use, and lifetime other drug use were associated with access. Participants reporting access were more likely to report clinical levels of lifetime suicidality and depression. The odds of current suicidality were highest in those with 24-h access (OR 2.77 CI 1.73–4.46), compared to those who did not endorse access.

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15 citations in Scopus

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Psychology, Clinical
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