Adolescent Worry about School Gun Violence: Data from a Nationally Representative Study of 14 – 17 Year Olds in the United States

Abstract

Using a nationally representative sample from the 2022 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (N = 1,004), this research examined the prevalence of school gun violence worry (SGVW) among U.S. adolescents aged 14 – 17 in the United States and its impact on anxiety and depression. This research draws upon Minority Stress Theory, which states that stigmatized individuals face unique stressors contributing to health disparities. The impact of minority status including racial, sexual, and gender identity on SGVW and its relationship to mental health were also explored. Results revealed that almost three out of four adolescents (73.3%) experience some degree of SGVW. The youngest and oldest respondents reported being more worried compared to the remaining age groups. Higher levels of SGVW were associated with increased anxiety (OR = 1.396, 95% CI: 1.196 – 1.629, p<0.001), but not depression. In separate models, racial minorities (OR = 2.012, 95% CI: 1.455 – 2.784, p<0.001) and gender minorities (OR = 1.948, 95% CI: 0.989 – 3.838, p < 0.05) had higher odds of SGVW than White adolescents and cisgender females, while cisgender males had lower odds (OR = 0.698, 95% CI: 0.501 – 0.974, p<0.01) than cisgender females. The impact of SGVW on anxiety was significant for both heterosexual (OR = 1.350, 95% CI: 1.137 – 1.603, p<0.001) and sexual minority adolescents (OR = 1.763, 95% CI: 1.119 – 2.777, p<0.1). These findings suggest that SGVW is prevalent among adolescents in the U.S. and is associated with increased anxiety.