The intersection of PTSD symptoms and firearm storage practices within a suicide prevention framework: Findings from a US Army National Guard sample.
Objective:
In this study of 327 firearm-owning National Guardsmen, we reported that posttraumatic stress disorder hyperarousal symptoms are significantly associated with greater odds of storing firearms loaded and/or in a non-secure location, even when controlling for other PTSD symptoms are significantly associated with greater odds of storing firearms loaded and/or in a non-secure location, even when controlling for other PTSD symptom clusters. This highlights that hyperarousal - a prolonged and difficult state of elevated stress and vigilance - may prompt individuals to store their firearms unsafely.
Project Status
Completed
Principal Investigator (PI): Ian Stanley, PhD; Mike Anestis, PhD