Objective:
The current study examined two dispositional traits indicated as important in firearm research – threat sensitivity (THT) and disinhibition (DIS). We hypothesized that 1) firearm owners overall would have lower THT and higher DIS relative to non-firearm owners, 2) mean levels of DIS (but not THT) would be higher among firearm owners who purchased during the 2020 purchasing surge relative to firearm owners who did not and non-firearm owners, and 3) DIS (but not THT) would be related to future plans for purchasing such that mean levels of DIS would be highest amongst those who have plans.
Method:
This study used an online-recruited sample (n = 3500) matched to 2010 US Census data. In this representative national sample (n=3500), we found that individuals who purchased firearms during the early months of the purchasing surge (March 2020-July 2020) were more sensitive to threat and less able to regulate their behavior when upset relative to non-firearm owners and other firearm owners. This indicates that the individuals driving the purchasing surge may be particularly driven by a sense that the world is threatening, a particularly difficult and prolonged experience during the tumultuous months of early 2020.
Project Status:
Completed
Principal Investigator (PI):
Joye C. Anestis, PhD, Michael D. Anestis, PhD, Olivia C. Preston, PhD, Taylor R. Rodriguez, MA