Firearm Access and Socio-Structural Factors Related to Suicidality Among Youth With Diverse Sexual, Gender, and Racial Identities

Abstract

Objective

Elevated rates of suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide attempts (SA) among youth, particularly multiply marginalized youth, are occurring in the context of youths’ access to household firearms. Research examining how perceived access to firearms is related to SI and SA among youth with marginalized identities is limited and often neglects to consider intersectionality. This study explored how intersecting social identities and positions, access to firearms, and socio-structural factors were associated with SI and SA for youth.

Method

The analytic sample (N = 17,794) included 7-12^th grade students who participated in the 2021 Dane County Youth Assessment. Exhaustive CHAID – a decision tree matrix approach – examined all possible combinations of self-reported sociodemographic characteristics (gender identity, sexual identity, racial identity, grade, and firearm access) and socio-structural variables (bias-based bullying, school belongingness, and social pressure) to predict mutually exclusive groups of youth based on past-year SI and SA.

Results

SI and SA was most prevalent among intersectional groups with multiply marginalized identities and access to firearms. Socio-structural factors, including bias-based bullying victimization, lack of school belongingness, and social pressure, were characteristic of groups with higher prevalence of SI and SA.

Conclusions

While the marginalized youth in this sample have lower access to firearms, the prevalence of SI and SA was highest among multiply marginalized youth who reported access to firearms in the context of bias-based bullying, social pressure, and a lack of school belongingness. Youth suicide prevention efforts would be strengthened by policies that address firearm access and improve the school environment.

HIGHLIGHTS

• There was a higher prevalence of suicidality among marginalized youth, particularly those with firearm access.

• Bullying, belonging, and social pressure informed patterns in youth suicidality.

• Youth suicide prevention should address firearm access and school environment.

Keywords:

• Firearms
• intersectionality
• socio-structural
• suicide
• youth

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors would like to thank the Dane County Youth Assessment team and the youth in Wisconsin who completed the survey.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this project was also provided by the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School.

Notes on contributors

Benjamin Parchem

Benjamin Parchem, PhD, Institute for Sexual and Gender Health, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.

Jenna Rudo-Stern

Jenna Rudo-Stern, PhD, Department of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

Lindsey Bratland

Lindsey Bratland, PsyD, Department of Pediatric Psychology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA.

Sherry D. Molock

Sherry D. Molock, PhD, MDiv, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.

G. Nic Rider

G. Nic Rider, PhD, Institute for Sexual and Gender Health, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.