Youth gun carriage: The interplay of community violence, family adversity, interpersonal violence, and substance use

Objective: Youth who carry guns are at higher risk of violence-related injuries (e.g., nonfatal gun assaults) and deaths (e.g., homicide). This study examined the direct, indirect, and total effects of multi-level factors contributing to gun carriage among female and male adolescents. Methods: This study utilized data from the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, drawn from a nationally representative sample (N = 11,251, 47.4 % female). Multigroup structural equation modeling was used to assess the complex interplay of community violence, family adversity, interpersonal violence, and substance use on youth gun carriage. Results: Exposure to community violence had the strongest overall effect on gun carriage in both females and males, with gender-specific patterns. In females, community violence showed a significant direct influence on gun carriage, whereas only indirect effects were observed in males. Moreover, the association between interpersonal violence and gun carriage was significantly stronger in females, while substance use had a stronger correlation with community violence and gun carriage in males. Conclusions: To prevent youth gun carriage, it is essential to reduce community violence and promote community safety. Prevention efforts should be tailored to both female and male adolescents, and comprehensive strategies that address the interconnected, multi-level factors are urgently needed.