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Weapon Involvement in the Victimization of Children
Kimberly J Mitchell1, Sherry L Hamby2, Heather A Turner3
1Crimes Against Children Research Center, kimberly.mitchell@unh.edu.
Pediatrics
|June 10, 2015
Summary
Nearly 14 million US youth have experienced weapon-involved violence. Over 2 million faced direct assault with high-lethality weapons like guns and knives, with poly-victims at higher risk.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Criminology
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Youth exposure to violence is a significant public health concern.
- Understanding the role of weapon involvement in child victimization is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of weapon involvement in youth victimization.
- To emphasize high-lethality weapons and their impact on children's lives.
- To contextualize weapon exposure within broader victimization experiences.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Second National Survey of Children's Exposure to Violence (2011).
- Conducted a nationally representative telephone survey of 4114 youth (ages 2–17) and caregivers.
- Analyzed lifetime exposure to violence involving weapons.
Main Results:
- Approximately 14 million US youth (1 in 5) have experienced weapon-involved violence.
- Over 2 million youth (1 in 33) were directly assaulted with guns or knives.
- Poly-victimized youth showed a higher likelihood of experiencing weapon-involved victimization.
Conclusions:
- Weapon exposure is a significant risk factor in youth victimization with potential mental health consequences.
- Findings underscore the need for improved gun safety and reduced child exposure to weapon violence.
- Further research is warranted to mitigate the impact of weapon-involved violence on young people.