Gun-Related Interpersonal Violence Among Sexual and Gender Minority People in New Jersey

Objective:
The overarching goal of this study is to collect pilot data on the role of guns in occurrences of interpersonal violence (IPV) among sexual and gender minority (SGM) people living in New Jersey. This mixed methods study will consist of two phases. The first phase is a qualitative study exploring the experiences of gun-related IPV among a sample of (N= 30) SGM adults living in New Jersey. The aim of his phase of the study is to describe the intersection of gun access, possession, and violence with IPV. The qualitative data collected in this phase of the study will inform the second phase of the study, a quantitative study of (N =250) SGM adults in New Jersey. The primary aim of the second phase of the study is to assess the extent to which gun access, possession, and/or violence victimization/perpetration is explained by (a) sociodemographic factors and (b) history of IPV victimization and/or perpetration among SGM individuals.
Preliminary results have been illuminating thus far. Specifically, participants have described several different forms of gun-related IPV, including being threatened by a former romantic partner, having a current romantic partner fire a weapon in their presence as a form of intimidation, and concerns for friends with mental health problems who were known to have access to or possess firearms. These initial interviews have informed a preliminary codebook that will be used to code the qualitative data at the completion of phase one of the study. The data has also been used to inform a draft of the quantitative survey to be launched at the completion of phase one of the study. 

Funded By:
New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center

Project Status:
In progress

Principal Investigator (PI):
Kristen D. Krause, PhD MPH, Christopher B. Stults, PhD

Amount Awarded:
$24,754