Drills or Distress? Understanding the Psychological Effects of Active Shooter Drills on Adolescents

Background: We sought to better understand the impact of exposure to active shooter drills (ASDs) on students' perceived stress, including those with disabilities and prior experiences with trauma. Methods: We used data from a longitudinal study of ethnically diverse students (n = 2,033; 53.5% female) originally recruited in 2018 and followed annually thereafter. In addition to self-reporting on their perceived stress with ASDs, participants responded to questions about adverse childhood experiences, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and disability. Results: Female students and those with a disability, probable anxiety, and suicidal ideation were more likely to be anxious after an ASD. Conclusion: While necessary given the increasing reality of school shootings in the United States, our results indicate that active shooter drills should be implemented with concern for vulnerable groups, including distressed students and those with a history of traumatic experiences or who have a disability.