Skip to main content
ABCT 2024 58th Annual Convention Main banner
Psychology Tools Ad
Final Program


Icon Legend
This session is not in your schedule.
This session is in your schedule. Click again to remove it.
Presentation Icons
Recorded Session
Recorded Session
Ticketed Session
Ticketed Session
Back
ViewAttendees 4

Symposia

Racial Trauma

Raising our Voices to the Concealment and Minimization of Racial Trauma: Experiences of Police Brutality, Colorism, Racial Gaslighting and Gun Violence

2 - (SYM 132) Gun Violence Exposure and Suicide Among Black Adults

Sunday, November 17, 2024
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM EST
Location: Franklin 10, Level 4, Marriott Downtown
Abstract Body

Black Americans are disproportionately exposed to gun violence in the US. Furthermore, suicide rates among Black Americans have increased in recent years. This study evaluated whether gun violence exposures are associated with suicidal ideation and behaviors among a nationally representative sample of Black Americans. The study sample included 3015 Black adults aged 18 to 94 years old (55% female; Mage = 46.34, SD = 0.44) who completed measures evaluating GVEs, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt preparation, and suicide attempt. A subsample of those exhibiting suicidal ideation was used to assess for suicidal behaviors. Most respondents indicated they were exposed to at least 1 type of gun violence (1693 [56%]), and 300 (12%) were exposed to at least 3 types of gun violence. Being threatened with a gun (odds ratio [OR], 1.44; 95% CI, 1.01-2.05) or knowing someone who has been shot (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.05-1.97) was associated with reporting lifetime suicidal ideation. Being shot was associated with reporting ever planning a suicide (OR, 3.73; 95% CI, 1.10-12.64). Being threatened (OR, 2.41; 95% CI, 2.41-5.09) or knowing someone who has been shot (OR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.42-5.74) was associated with reporting lifetime suicide attempts. Cumulative GVE was associated with reporting lifetime suicidal ideation (1 type: OR, 1.69 [95% CI, 1.19-2.39]; 2 types: OR, 1.69 [95% CI, 1.17-2.44]; ≥3 types: OR, 2.27 [95% CI, 1.48-3.48]), suicide attempt preparation (≥3 types; OR, 2.37; 95% CI, 2.37-5.63), and attempting suicide (2 types: OR, 4.78 [95% CI, 1.80-12.71]; ≥3 types: OR, 4.01 [95% CI, 1.41-11.44]). Overall, study findings demonstrate how both individual and cumulative gun violence exposures are significantly associated with lifetime suicidal ideation, suicide attempt preparation, and attempting suicide for Black Americans. Public health efforts to substantially reduce interpersonal gun violence may yield additional benefits by decreasing suicide among Black individuals in the US.